Anti-lockdown protesters arrested as tensions flare at The Tan for Freedom Protest

A strong police presence at The Tan quickly ended Saturday’s “Freedom Walk” protest. But dozens are expected to attend another anti-lockdown event dubbed “Sunday Surprise”.

Police arrest a demonstrator at the anti-lockdown protest near the Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police are set to crackdown on another planned anti-lockdown rally on Sunday— a day after more than a dozen protesters were arrested at a “Melbourne Freedom Walk”.

Conspiracy theorists, virus deniers and anti-lockdown advocates defied repeated warnings from Victoria Police to protest against COVID-19 restrictions at the march around The Tan track on Saturday morning.

More than 100 officers from the Critical Incident Response Team, Public Order Response, Highway Patrol and Mounted Unit formed a ring of steel around the popular exercising track and the nearby Shrine of Remembrance, where violent scenes erupted at last week’s demonstration.

Police arrest another demonstrator at the anti-lockdown protest Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Anti-lockdown protester near the Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police speak to a suspected protester. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Fourteen people were arrested for shunning police orders at the protest, including a woman who was restrained on the ground by several officers at the Observatory Gate.

She claimed that she “had information” and had written a “road map on the day they called stage four”, before she was ushered into the back of a police van.

“They’ve arrested me because I won’t say my name. I’ve been in Melbourne all my life, I just want to go for a walk,” the woman said.

A man wearing a mask emblazoned with “Sack Dan Andrews” was also among those arrested for refusing to provide ID to police.

A further 51 infringement notices were issued for breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directions.

A woman protests in Fitzroy Gardens. Picture: Alex Coppel.

An anti-lockdown protestor wearing a Daniel Andrews mask near the Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police turn out in force at the anti-lockdown protest near the Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Meanwhile, police shut down an attempted protest at Fitzroy Gardens before it could begin, thwarting organisers’ attempts to hold a rally against lockdown.

A small number of activists turned up to the rally, including an elderly woman who refused police directions to move on and started protesting at the park.

The woman, who communicated using Auslan, attempted to hold up a poster saying “Open our Churches” before police took it off her.

Police let the woman go without issuing an infringement after a drawn out exchange.

Dozens of officers also guarded several landmarks across the city, including Carlton Gardens and Luna Park in St Kilda, over fears of more rallies.

Another Freedom Day protest is set to go ahead today [Sunday].

Police speak to a demonstrator at the anti-lockdown protest on The Tan. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police repeatedly warned protesters not to attend on Saturday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

More protests are planned for Sunday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Police at the Shrine of Remembrance ahead of a planned “Melbourne Freedom Walk” protest, in Melbourne, Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

In an event dubbed “Sunday Surprise” on social media, over 150 anti-lockdown advocates have declared their support for another demonstration.

While the event is listed to take place at 11am, organisers wrote on the page that the location of the rally will not be revealed until an hour before it’s due to kick off.

Police said it was “disappointing” to see individuals continue to turn out to protests despite repeated warnings.

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