Extinction Rebellion: Thousands of cops diverted to control climate rebels
Police have arrested an Extinction Rebellion climate activist, and surrounded the protest group to prevent traffic chaos in Melbourne’s CBD.
Victoria
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Police have arrested an Extinction Rebellion protester who attached herself to a barricade in Melbourne’s CBD.
The woman had looped her arm through a barrier at the intersection of Flinders Lane and Queens St before police removed a pipe that she held in her hands.
Officers placed a blanket over her head, obscuring her from view, as they cut the pipe while John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice” blared through the group’s speakers.
The intersection has been cleared of protesters and traffic is flowing again, but supporters at the spot chanted “we’ll be back”.
Extinction Rebellion Police Liaison Karen Morrissey said their members were placed “at severe risk” by the police response.
She said the tactical unit used “intimidation tactics” and didn’t let those arrested have their support person.
She said she was stopped from doing her role as police liaison and threatened with arrest if she didn’t get off the road.
“They began counting down from 30,” she said.
She said was just trying to do her role and talk to the protesters on the road to ensure they were “informed” on what would happen to them.
She said she had to yell out to them and quickly direct them off the road when they said they hadn’t attended the group’s training or legal briefing.
“It’s not appropriate for police to stop the police liaison,” she said.
Earlier, two separate groups of protesters met at Bourke St Mall to form a large rally.
The group converged outside H&M as one activist stood above the crowd and led “Climate Justice!” chants.
A police van, followed by several unmarked police cars, blocked the Bourke St tram tracks before following the group — which was now double in size — headed down Elizabeth St towards Flinders St Station..
A trio of women dressed in red costumes stood on the corner of Flinders Lane as the activists turned into the street on their meandering route through the CBD.
Police used a megaphone to tell protesters if they did not leave the road they would be arrested.
Police instructed members of the media to leave the police cordon a surrounding the intersection.
A passerby yelled out “you f---ing weirdos” as the protesters marched down Flinders Lane, while another man yelled at the group blocking traffic to “get jobs”.
“We’ve already got jobs, mate, but we’re doing it for your kids and your grandkids,” a protester replied.
The group had earlier left their base at Carlton Gardens and marched through the CBD, flanked by police.
Chanting “climate action now” one group marched down La Trobe St, their rainbow flags fluttering in the wind, while another broke off earlier and marched down Exhibition St.
Mounted police and riot squad are present, with dozens of cops following the group and directing traffic.
The activists briefly stopped at a pedestrian crossing at the Swanston and La Trobe street intersection outside Melbourne Central station, where a police officer was heard instructing fellow members to “surround” the group and “cordon them off”.
The group moved on and marched down La Trobe St before turning down Elizabeth St.
Dozens of police are patrolling the perimeter of the group and Highway Patrol vehicles with “Slow Down Walkers Ahead” flashing above drove alongside them.
The protesters say they have more stunts in store after their “rebel ride’” disrupted traffic on Tuesday morning.
The group earlier rode bikes from Carlton to the CBD as part of their week-long plans for “mass disruption”.
Victoria Police said there had been no arrests or behaviour issues during the bike ride.
But the group’s tactics have come under fire from Acting Premier James Merlino, who said they were not winning over any support.
“You don’t win arguments by putting yourself or others at risk,” Mr Merlino said on Tuesday.
“You don’t win arguments by severely disrupting the lives of fellow Victorians.”
Extinction Rebellion spokesman, Tim, said the aim of Tuesday morning’s ride was to “create some temporary disruption to begin the day”.
“We will be riding these bikes through the city in a clockwise direction at a crawl,” he said.
“We are doing this to draw attention to the significant damage to the climate that’s been happening.”
Tim said before the ride began that there were no plans to have any protesters arrested as the group plans to continue disruptions in the city throughout the week.
“We will be doing this every day,” he said.
Rally organiser Brad Homewood said the bike ride through busy Melbourne streets in the morning was the first part of Extinction Rebellion’s planned disruptions for the day, with a “solidarity swarm” set to begin at Carlton Gardens later in the afternoon.
“We are doing this to get our message across,” Mr Homewood said.
The group began chanting “Extinction Rebellion” as they began their ride on Tuesday morning.
Two thousand police officers have been pulled from regular duties to respond to a week of “mass disruption” by climate activists across Melbourne.
Cars could be heard honking their horns as police blocked off the intersection of Victoria Street and Rathdowne Street on Tuesday morning.
The group proceeded to ride across three lanes of traffic while waving rainbow flags donning the Extinction Rebellion logo.
The group have begun chanting “tell the truth” and “act now” as traffic was halted by police on Exhibition Street.
Cyclists blasted a megaphone as the group rode down Exhibition Street.
Protesters apologised to commuters in their cars who could not drive as cyclists moved onto Flinders Street.
Protesters halted traffic on Flinders Street for the third time in the past week but the tram tracks remained clear.
The group cycled through the city for roughly 1.5 hours before circling back to Carlton Gardens.
Police escorted the riders, blocking off major intersections and stopping traffic through the entire ride.
On Saturday, protest organiser Andrew George, from Williamstown, was charged with obstruction traffic and public nuisance for parking a rental truck across tram tracks on Flinders Street.
Another organiser estimated about 30 climate activists were part of the ‘rebel ride’.
It is understood further protests are planned for later on Tuesday afternoon, also taking off from Carlton Gardens.
Three Extinction Rebellion protesters arrested were arrested after a rally on Lonsdale St on Monday afternoon.
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