Climate rebels stripping of their clothes ahead of nude march
A large group of climate demonstrators have taken it all off during their sixth consecutive day of disruptive protests in the CBD, which is causing further chaos.
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Extinction Rebellion protesters have marched through the city in the nude this morning.
They left Carlton Gardens and blocked traffic as they paraded down the centre of Exhibition and Bourke streets calling for the government to declare a “climate emergency”, before marching through Melbourne Central shopping centre at 12pm.
Shoppers were startled by the scantily clad protesters, and some stores shut their doors with customers inside.
Other shoppers watched and filmed as half naked protesters shouted “tell the truth” in the busy mall.
Melbourne Central retail worker Sarah Ngo, 20, said the store closed it’s doors when the protesters marched through the mall.
“I think a man banged on the window,” Ms Ngo said.
“It was probably good we shut the doors.” She said.
Ms Ngo said she heard loud music as the protesters walked through the mall and “just saw lots of naked people”.
— Angelica Snowden (@ang3snowden) October 12, 2019
Workers at another store said before the protesters walked through Melbourne Central police warned them so they had time to prepare.
“We decided to close our door,” one worker said.
“Not because we felt threatened, but because we didn’t want anything to get knocked over.”
The workers remarked that it was unusual for protesters to walk through the mall.
After about 15 minutes protesters exited onto LaTrobe St and returned to Carlton Gardens.
Company director Peter, 35, said many protesters had been called ‘dole bludgers’ throughout the week.
“There are professional people here who have taken a week off work to be here,”
“I have not met one person on welfare,” he said.
Extinction Rebellion protester and full-time student Max White, 34, used to be an emergency doctor in Sydney and regional Victoria before he joined the movement.
“I felt like a cog in the machine,” he said.
“I would help one person at hospital but would still feel broader problems that led people there were not being addressed.”
Mr White said he gave up work as a doctor to study public health.
“Climate change is the biggest threat to our public health,” he said.
Another protester Mark, 28, said he became involved in the Extinction Rebellion group early this year.
Mark, who also didn’t want to reveal his last name, had also participated in anti-racist and anti homophobic protests in the past.
He said he accepts people have been inconvenienced by the disruptions, but that now people are talking about climate change.
“People aren’t going to say it was worth the planet dying because they were late to work.”
#ExtinctionRebellion protesters attracting attention as they march down Exhibition St @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/7mENgjvkJh
— Angelica Snowden (@ang3snowden) October 12, 2019
Protesters marched down Bourke St chanting “how dare you” - a reference to Greta Thunberg’s speech at the UN.
They also stopped briefly outside Australia Post on Bourke St to play a sample of Thunberg’s speech that was made into a song.
They then sung to ‘Your the Voice’ by John Farnham.
On Friday, costumed climate rebels have disco-danced their way down Bourke St mall, shutting tram services down.
The sequinned, ’70s-themed dancers grooved their way down from Carlton Gardens and into the city as part of a “civil disco-bedience” protest.
More than 100 activists then lay down on tram tracks in Bourke St Mall, before police moved them on.
According to Extinction Rebellion, the dance protest “is not just non-violent direct dance, it’s a way of life”.
Elsewhere in the city, more activists were pictured walking on the footpath and making a beeline for Swanston St before 3.30pm.
The Civil-Discobedience Train is fueled by groove and a thirst for climate justice!#ExtinctionRebellion #SpringRebellion @ExtinctionR pic.twitter.com/I9TZBd9VbG
— Extinction Rebellion Australia (@XRebellionAus) October 11, 2019
It comes as Melburnians were this afternoon advised to get out of the city as quickly as possible this afternoon ahead of more planned protests.
For anyone unable to leave before traffic chaos recommences before peak hour, commuters are being warned by police to allow for extra time.
The advice comes after more than 100 climate change protesters were arrested in and around the CBD throughout the week.
“Victoria Police respects people’s right to protest peacefully, but will continue to act swiftly when those actions are impacting on everyone else’s right to go about their daily lives,” North West Metro Region Commander Tim Hansen said.
“More than 100 arrests have been made throughout the week due to people failing to abide by directions made by police or intentionally obstructing emergency service workers.
“Let us be clear; police will continue to make arrests and hold people to account when offences occur.”
The Commander thanked Victorians affected for their understanding and patience.
“We know it’s been a long week of disruptions to people’s day-to-day lives,” he said.
“Rest assured police remain focused on community safety and minimising disruptions.”
Earlier today, climate protesters have clashed with two people while blockading multiple offices on Collins St.
Traffic controller Carmie, who did not provide her surname, was pushed out by a group of protesters who were blocking the entrance to Oceanagold.
She was trying to free colleagues who were trapped inside by the activists.
The worker ducked under a protest banner but was stopped and pushed out.
“I nearly punched the chick with the glasses,” she told the Herald Sun.
“What they are doing is bulls---. They are disrupting work sites and holding up traffic when people need to get to work.
“It’s a waste of time.”
Demonstrators also shoved off a man who tried to enter the Rio Tinto building.
It comes as huge number of trams and cars were halted as protesters shut down Collins St and blockade multiple CBD buildings in a fifth day of climate demonstrations.
Angry commuters were left stranded at tram stops due to the unplanned peak hour protest march from 8.30am.
Some were heard screaming at protesters as they marched down the Collins St, shutting two major intersections as they went.
“Get a job,” one called.
The group blockaded the Collins St entrance to Oceanagold, a gold mining corporation.
The human blockade later moved to the office of Rio Tinsto, also on Collins St.
Pedestrians were forced to squeeze past protesters single-file as the demonstration spilled out on the footpath.
Police on bikes, foot and in marked cars scurried to keep ahead of the group.
At one point, they began marching in the wrong direction and had to double back.
Climate change protestors have set up in front of the BHP offices on Collins Street in Melbourne, chanting “Coal don’t dig it, leave it in the ground, it’s time to get with it.†@abcmelbourne @BreakfastNews pic.twitter.com/3EgQoO5ONT
— Zalika Rizmal (@Zalika_R) October 10, 2019
Extinction Rebellion protesters marching in the middle of Collins St in a fifth day of CBD demonstrations. Trams and cars halted @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/8iMgT4aRWh
— Aneeka Simonis (@AneekaSimonis) October 10, 2019
BABY BORN AMID THURSDAY PROTEST CHAOS
A baby was born amid climate protest chaos on Thursday morning, as a labouring mum-to-be got caught in the city traffic mayhem on her way to hospital to give birth.
Heavily pregnant Caulfield mum Tammy Nossbaum and her husband Eli were rushing to hospital when they hit protest-induced gridlock in the CBD on Thursday morning.
Climate change activists were blocking the route to the Frances Perry House Maternity Hospital.
After a quick assessment, police stepped in and escorted the pair to Parkville.
“She was holding her tummy and clearly labouring,” Mr Nossbaum said. “(The police officer) had his lights flashing.
“He took us along the tram tracks through all the traffic.”
The Nossbaums left home just after 9am, hit the city traffic about 9.30, arrived at the hospital just before 10 and the baby was delivered before 11am.
“We made it just in time,” Mr Nossbaum said. “They really saved the day.
“We wouldn’t have made it without them. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for VicPol.”
Tammy and her unnamed baby boy are doing well and recovering in hospital.
Forty-one climate protesters were arrested on Thursday as disruptive demonstrations were taken to a new level.
Nineteen people, including a 17-year-old, were charged with intentionally obstructing an emergency service worker.
All were released on bail by the courts or police.
At least 12 received unconditional bail which means they have been freed without restrictions and can rejoin protests.
Another 22 received penalty notices for failing to abide by a traffic direction made by police.
Premier Daniel Andrews slammed protesters for their lack of “decency” in unplanned city blockades, with at least 30 protesters arrested across the CBD on Thursday.
Beginning a fourth day of chaotic city protests, climate rebels flooded peak-hour trains, glued themselves to a bridge and blockaded traffic in Melbourne.
“Other protests have the common sense and the decency to contact Victoria Police and work with transport operators,” Mr Andrews said.
“These people have not done that and are winning no friends by the way they are conducting themselves.”
An Andrews government spokesperson said police “won’t hesitate” to move on protesters.
“Victoria Police have the powers and resources to issue ‘move on’ direction to a person to leave a public place and they won’t hesitate to use them,” said the spokesperson.
“We will not tolerate anyone who breaks the law or engages in anti-social or violent behaviour while protesting.”
It comes after protesters shut down a massive intersection opposite Southern Cross Station about 8.30am Thursday, sparking traffic chaos and public outrage for an hour.
Trams were stopped at Batman Park, forcing commuters to exit early.
Cars on Spencer St were also stuck between Flinders and Collins streets.
Eight demonstrators, including a woman in her mid-70s, were lying in the middle of the Collins and Spencer streets intersection, their arms linked together with hollow pipe.
They were blocked in by a human chain of protesters blocking cars and trams.
All eight were freed and taken away by police after being sawn out of their locking devices in a delicate hour-long operation.
About a dozen sat behind police tape on Collins St in a show of defiance against police.
Angry motorists were beeping and passer-bys yelled at protesters as police swarmed the intersection.
But once an intersection was cleared by police, splinter groups peeled off and rushed to occupy other roadways.
The Spencer St intersection was reopened to traffic around 9.30am.
Meanwhile, other protesters around the corner glued themselves to King St Bridge, which was closed to traffic for more than two hours.
Bizarrely, far right extremist Neil Erikson was reportedly marched away by police.
Kings St Bridge reopened after last super-glued protester removed from road. It was blocked for 2+ hours @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/pO3N7FX9a5
— Aneeka Simonis (@AneekaSimonis) October 9, 2019
The bridge was reopened about 10.40am after police removed the final protester and led them away.
Activists later stormed a Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning building, forcing it into temporary lockdown shortly before 11am.
A number of demonstrators gathered in the foyer of the Nicholson St building in East Melbourne before they were removed by security.
A DELWP spokesperson said: “Building security initiated standard safety procedures, including temporary closure of access points.
“The situation was resolved within minutes and did not impact staff or government business.”
A pink fishing boat with “climate emergency” written on its side was also parked outside the building.
At an early-morning briefing at Alexandra Gardens, demonstrators were advised to go limp on police for their best chance to avoid charges of resisting arrest.
Demonstrators were also warned to avoid small talk with police as they could use it as a tactic to “trick” them.
PROTESTERS’ WEEK OF CHAOS
It’s the latest inconvenience for Melbourne commuters this week as a massive swarm of protesters aims to cause chaos in the name of raising awareness for climate change.
On Wednesday, the corner of La Trobe and Swanston streets was blocked off by protesters at peak hour.
Police said they feared radicals were planning to “infiltrate” the protest with violent guerilla tactics.
Protesters also staged a “Last Supper” in the fountain outside the NGV, while others blocked Hoddle St with their bicycles during the morning peak hour.
On Tuesday, 59 people were arrested when tense scenes unfolded at a massive protest, with police carting activists off one by one.
Police confirmed 35 people received a penalty notice for failing to abide by police traffic direction at the intersection of Collins and Spring streets.
Another 24 people were arrested for resisting an emergency services worker.
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Those arrested were expected to be summonsed to appear at court at a later date.
And on Monday, hundreds of climate protesters marched through the city in a widespread evening demonstration that shut down parts of Melbourne’s CBD.
Activists gathered at an illegal campsite at Carlton Gardens and blockaded the intersection of Russell and Bourke streets.
Dozens of climate activists stormed EnergyAustralia’s Melbourne headquarters earlier in the day, creating a human barrier at the CBD building.