Thousands take to the streets of Melbourne in anti-racism rally
Police have fined the organisers of an anti-racism rally which saw thousands of protesters defy social distancing restrictions, and are considering further action against the “unlawful gathering”.
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Victoria Police said they were “generally pleased” with the behaviour of anti-racism protesters who turned out in their thousands in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday in breach of the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
“We remain concerned that such a large gathering has occurred without regard for the need to maintain social distance and will now consider what action should be taken in relation to the organisation and conduct of this unlawful gathering,” a police spokeswoman said.
“Victoria Police will be issuing a $1,652 infringement notice to each of the organisers of the protest today for breaching the Chief Health Officer directions.
“Police will continue to investigate the events of today to determine whether any further follow up enforcement activity is required.”
As of 5pm, police had made no arrests during the protest and they were not aware of any acts of violence or property damage.
One protestor was seen standing on top of a police car on the corner of Collins and Swanston St during the rally.
Police were trying to identify the man, a Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed.
A witness claimed a protester was struck by a reversing police car.
“The guy stood behind them and wasn’t going to let them move,” the witness said.
Victoria Police said it was “making enquiries with the officers involved to understand the full circumstances of the incident”.
Supporters have offered to cover any fines given to the protest’s organisers.
Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance wrote on social media thanking its supporters, but said the organisation isn’t in need of the money.
“We would prefer you direct the funds to the families directly impacted by deaths in custody,” the group wrote.
A huge crowd marched through the city on Saturday afternoon as police watched from the sidelines.
Protesters were urged by rally organiser Meriki Onus to keep moving.
“We can’t trust the cops,” Ms Onus told the crowd.
“We know who the aggressors are and it is not us.”
The Melbourne rally was one of many today, as thousands of people took part in a global wave of anti-racism rallies over the death of George Floyd in the United States.
The Melbourne crowd taunted police officers with cries of “take a knee” and booing when they did not react.
Others shouted “F--- VicPol”.
An Indigenous smoking ceremony took place outside Flinders Street station.
“We are the most spiritual people on this earth,” a spokesman said.
Hip hop music was played, along with indigenous instruments, including the didgeridoo, while light rain did little to deter the protesters.
“There’s not pride in genocide,” was chanted by the crowd.
“Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.”
As the rally made its way through the city, protesters stopped outside Melbourne East Police Station, with some protesters charging at police who are guarded the police station, some on horseback.
Agitated protesters began shouting “F--- the police” as they eyeballed officers, while others gave them the finger.
“No justice, no peace, no racist police,” the crowd chanted.
Tens of thousands poured down Bourke St toward Swanston St before arriving at Federation Square.
Protesters marched shoulder to shoulder as they march, chanting “no justice, no peace”.
Other signs being displayed include “Racism is small d--- energy” and “Racism is a pandemic”.
As some protesters waited to march, a pop-up dance circle emerged.
Protesters climbed up on to tram stops along Bourke St and waved indigenous flags.
The march paused briefly while protesters dropped to one knee, with many chanting “Too many cops, not enough justice”.
Protest organisers have urged people to maintain social distancing as they march through the city.
Police are watching from the sides of Bourke St as thousands march through the city.
Hundreds began flocking to the steps of Parliament House about 1pm, an hour before the rally’s official start time.
Dozens of police are guarding the Victorian Parliament, including some on horseback.
The crowd has swelled to thousands and is ignoring social distancing although the vast majority of protesters are wearing face masks.
After a welcome to country was recited, protest organiser and co-founder of activist group Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance, Meriki Onus, addressed the crowd, wearing a shirt saying “destroy white supremacy”.
“Aboriginal people are subjected to police brutality and racist police practices and we have had enough,” Ms Onus said. “Black lives matter.”
She also urged the crowd to wear face masks.
“We’ve got the media on us,” Ms Onus said. “We’re in this together.”
Signs in the crowd include “f--- the police”, “colour is not a crime” and “abolish police”.
Other signs included “sex is good but have you ever f---ed the system” and “white silence is white violence”.
An indigenous man who spoke at the protest said his son was killed in 2017 in a police pursuit.
“It is a broke system, we have lived with it from day one,” the man said.
“It has taken an incident in America for us to have some light shed on what has happened in our country.
“We are fighting a corporation, it’s not a government. We’ll get these dogs in the toilet.
“As for these policy enforcers. You need to have a good long look, the legacy you’re leaving behind. You’re not going to be a copper forever.”
The family of deceased indigenous woman Tanya Day also spoke to activists.
“We were all created as equals but one thing is for sure: we are not treated as equals,” Warren Day said.
“Australia’s national anthem is a disgrace. All we want is justice and to be treated as equals.”
A speaker also read the dying words of George Floyd, receiving huge applause when she said they were all here to “stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world”.
The names of Australian victims who have died in custody were read out, with the speaker saying: “If all these people were white, no doubt they would still be here.”
Hand sanitiser and face masks has been distributed among the crowd.
One protester, who gave his name as Carlo, said there was an uneasy feeling in the air.
“You don’t really know which way this is going to go yet. It’s like people are waiting for something,” he said.
Earlier, the crowd cheered when a protester began to yell loudly at police they were not social distancing.
Officers had just been speaking to the man about being drunk, and assured him he wasn’t in any trouble.
There is a significant police presence, with most officers wearing face masks.
The city’s public transport network has also been shut down by the protest, with trams on Bourke, Swanston, Collins and Flinders streets affected.
Motorists are also unable to access the intersections of Spring and Bourke streets and Spring and Collins streets.
Victoria Parade and Nicholson St is also closed, and there are delays in surrounding streets in the CBD.
More than 40,000 people registered interest in attending the protest outside Victoria’s parliament in Spring St despite coronavirus bans on mass gatherings, sparking backlash from groups including city traders, families of coronavirus victims and health authorities.
PLEAS FOR PROTESTERS TO STAY HOME
The organisers of the protest yesterday ignored pleas from the police, governments and health experts to stay at home over fears the mass gathering of protesters could spark a deadly outbreak of coronavirus.
It comes amid revelations that a woman who once declared “f--- Australia, hope it burns to the ground” and a research fellow at RMIT University are two of the organisers who will lead today’s rally in the CBD.
Meriki Onus, Crystal McKinnon and Tarneen Onus-Williams, of The Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance group, organised today’s protest and yesterday remained defiant amid mounting criticism of the planned event. They said yesterday “protest is not a choice”, after calls for them to cancel the demonstration.
The women refused to answer questions at a media conference and instead read out a prepared statement.
Ms Onus-Williams said “f--- Australia, hope it burns to the ground” during an “Invasion Day” protest in 2018.
“This is a global and historic movement,” Ms Onus said yesterday.
“A product of hundreds of years of systemic racism and policing that Australia has contributed to.
“Every time we rally, the state and police attempt to stop us by force. Police in South Australia have acknowledged that this must go ahead and are working with organisers to ensure safety for people attending. This is what we are asking.”
Victoria’s incoming police chief Shane Patton said yesterday that protest organisers would be fined if the rally went ahead, but officers would instead focus on maintaining a peaceful event.
“People have to be held accountable for their actions,” he said.
“We will issue infringements to the organisers.”
Fines would not exceed $1652, the fine limit prescribed under the state of emergency regulations.
Premier Dan Andrews said police had decided issuing COVID-19 fines to anyone who attended “may well inflame a volatile situation”.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer had urged organisers to cancel the illegal gathering, saying it would pose increased risk to public health and could spark a second wave of COVID-19 cases.
NSW — where protesters have been arrested — went further, with Police Commissioner Mick Fuller applying to the state’s Supreme Court to stop protests in Sydney in a bid to enforce social distancing rules.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the injunction was critical because the government would not “give the green light to thousands and thousands of protesters”.
But the NSW Court of Appeal overturned yesterday’s decision to stop the event.
All four police officers involved in Mr Floyd’s death have been charged, with Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck until he stopped breathing, facing a new count of murder.
Protests have been held across America, many turning violent and resulting in widespread damage and looting and sparking a global movement of protests including in London, Paris and South America.
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