‘Park picnic’ protests planned after Luna Park, demonstration quashed
Protest picnics have fizzled out after organisers called a “rest day” for anti-lockdown demonstrators, following a week of violence and chaos.
Victoria
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Small groups of anti-vaxxers have appeared to gather across the city for “park picnic protests” to rally against industry vaccination mandates.
Anti-vax ringleaders who organised Saturday’s quickly-quashed protest at Luna Park and the St Kilda foreshore on Saturday were spruiking picnic protests on Sunday.
Dubbed a “rest day”, organisers urged protesters to “regroup at your local park”, with multiple locations suggested across metropolitan Melbourne and regional towns.
Protesters were encouraged to link up with one another in Telegram chats, with each chat dedicated to a picnic location handpicked by organisers.
“The people have decided a rest day is in order to regroup and strategise for a more successful week of protests ahead,” said a post on the encrypted app.
Protesters were encouraged to wear a white cloth or bracelet on their wrist, so they could be identified by other demonstrators.
“But if cops are circling, remove it or cover it,” the post said.
However, parks were filled with fully vaccinated locals who could legally enjoy a five-person picnic, making it difficult for some demonstrators to track each other down.
However, Telegram correspondence seen by the Herald Sun suggests certain protesters were successful.
One user in the Werribee chat said: “Small group of us sat on grass (in the park) with Aussie flag.”
While another in the Northcote chat wrote: “We have a group of six or so at the dog park.”
But, some of the picnics never got off the ground, with one user in the Sunbury chat writing: “I’m heading off. No one else here.”
Organisers explained the picnics were about “enjoying the day without being harassed by cops” and “networking with others to improve protest numbers”.
It is not yet known if police have today made any arrests in relation to illegal picnics.
SATURDAY PROTESTS FOILED
Police outnumbered anti-vax protesters who gathered at a protest in St Kilda on Saturday and brought traffic to a halt on Beaconsfield parade.
Police almost immediately surrounded the splintered group of about 200 people that filtered onto the St Kilda foreshore and surrounding streets about 1pm, after patrolling Luna Park.
Police said they arrested 94 people for unlawful protest activity, mostly in the St Kilda and Melbourne CBD areas.
Riot squad police tackled several aggressive protesters to the ground while Victoria Police officers issued $5452 fines to dozens of marchers over the illegal gathering.
Demonstrators chanted “freedom” and “we are not afraid” as they gathered along the St Kilda foreshore before spilling onto Beach Rd.
Angry motorists blasted their horns at the group that blocked city-bound traffic.
Swarms of police cars swiftly created a roadblock outside Luna Park.
Police formed a wall along the beach to block protesters from leaving as they hurled profanities and yelled at officers.
Riot squad officers lead several aggressive protesters away in handcuffs as the demonstrators called them “clowns” and “f------ dogs”.
Police swarm and detail a hostile couple @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/c9M6z5BTDQ
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) September 25, 2021
Officers form a wall around demonstrators @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/i17xnyFuEv
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) September 25, 2021
‘Freedom rally’ demonstrators vowed to protest in large crowds each day in the CBD and Melbourne’s inner suburbs following the announcement of vaccination mandates for the construction and health sectors.
However, infighting reigned among protesters the encrypted app Telegram as it did on Friday, with reports of varying meeting points and wariness about gathering near police quelling numbers.
Marchers could be heard on group conference calls after Saturday’s abysmal turnout complaining about the lack of planning and unity between multiple organisers.
More than 20 public order response units lined up in the outbound lanes on Beach Road.
Protesters also chanted “f--- Dan Andrews” through megaphones.
A group of officers placed a man in handcuffs and led him way from the Melbourne landmark.
Demonstrators also conceded defeat on Friday morning after infighting.
A small group of unruly marchers had gathered at Northcote Plaza on Friday afternoon where they were met with dozens of police officers and riot squad members who used batons to beat some of the more aggressive people to the ground.
The latest protest follow days of mass disruption across the CBD after construction workers shut down the Westgate Bridge and descended on the Shrine of Remembrance, with some allegedly urinating at the memorial site.
Infighting among hundreds of active Telegram users has revealed division between splinter groups who appeared to have become increasingly frustrated with some of the more aggressive marchers.
“This is a peaceful protest,” an organiser said.
“Anyone behaving otherwise will be held accountable by our own side.”
The warnings follow a spate of videos obtained by the Herald Sun showing protesters who appeared to be construction workers last week attacking journalists, engaging in brawls with police and snorting white powder.
Protest organisers previously called on demonstrators to avoid buying and consuming alcohol during the marches.
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