Protesters arrested as police break up Northcote gathering
Police have broken up a protest gathering in Northcote, arresting demonstrators who had fled the CBD after vowing to wreak havoc “every day”.
Victoria
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Victoria Police have arrested dozens of people on a fifth day of protests in Melbourne.
Police confirmed 215 people were slapped with $5452 fines for breaching the chief health officer’s orders.
Construction workers protesting the industry shutdown, anti-vax and anti-lockdown activists had vowed to wreak havoc “every day” until their demands were met.
However, a strong police presence in the city ultimately stopped demonstrators from gathering in the CBD as they had on previous days, with the organisers conceding defeat about midday.
A small group of protesters gathered at All Nations Park in Northcote in a bid to unite demonstrators scattered across the city.
Public order response units were seen speeding towards the park while some organisers broadcast a livestream of the slowly growing crowd.
The group could be heard chanting “every day, every day, every day” before the crowd spilled on to St George’s Rd.
Just before 4pm, uniform and riot squad officers closed in on a small group of protesters outside the plaza’s entrance, throwing one man to the ground and arresting him.
The scene attracted jeers from from the crowd as police formed a line, urging onlookers to move on.
Dozens of uniformed police moved into the park as crowds began dispersing.
Police make arrests as more officers surround Northcote Plaza in an attempt to quell the dozens of protesters @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/52eBqSHs8E
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) September 24, 2021
Donning shield and batons, officers yelled “move” in unison while several unruly men yelled and swore.
On-foot officers formed a human shield around the shopping centre and its carpark, arresting several people as they fanned out and dispersing the remaining crowd.
Some protesters yelled “die you media pigs,” and “f--- your mothers” as journalists stood nearby.
Dozens of onlookers filmed the unfolding ordeal on their phones while a police helicopter circled above.
Most of the protesters were maskless.
Most people seen at the small rally were dressed in casual clothing despite the protest planned for today being labelled as a rally for workers’ freedom by organisers.
Riot police lined the street leading into Northcote Plaza.
A group of police manned the main entrance while other officers questioned and processed people for gathering illegally and not wearing a face mask.
Others were also slapped with a fine for travelling outside their 10km radius.
Officers were heard issuing stern warnings to others seen straggling in the area.
Young children could be seen just metres from riot police as they descended on the plaza’s entrance.
Some remaining protesters continued to chant: “f--- Dan Andrews” and “free Victoria”.
SETKA SLAMS SHRINE PROTESTERS
Union boss John Setka has denounced those who took part in the Shrine of Remembrance protest — accusing participants of dishonoring those who fought and died for the country.
In a statement posted to Twitter on Friday afternoon, the CFMEU Victorian state secretary said: “the obscene behaviour at the Shine this week was disgusting and an insult to all veterans and to the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia”.
In an effort to clear the CFMEU’s name, Mr Setka shared a letter addressed to him from a veterans association, which appears to dismiss claims a number of riot participants were union members.
“John, I want to let you know that the Victorian Branch of the Vietnam Veterans of Australia lays no blame with the CFMEU for the riotous behaviour witnessed at the Shrine,” the letter from the branch president Bob Elworthy reads.
“Clearly, what was initially a union issue with COVID vaccinations has been hijacked by splinter groups hell bent on creating civil unrest who could not care one bit for the origins of the issue.”
It continued, “I would also hope that should you discover that union members did take part in the riot that you take appropriate action.”
The leading union figure has been under increasing pressure since the CFMEU headquarters were trashed during violent protests against coronavirus regulations on Monday.
Mr Setka claimed that demonstration, and the protests which followed in the days that followed, did not involve real union members and were instead orchestrated by far-right extremists.
PROTESTS FIZZLE IN CBD
Messages on the encrypted messaging app Telegram showed protesters and organisers turning on each other on Friday as their illegal event failed to get off the ground for a second straight day.
“This is what happens when a handful of people try to get some fame and run their own show,” one organiser wrote.
“3 days of walking around doesn’t change s--- people, this needs to be relentless every day until our demands are met. Sad day for Victoria.”
The protesters couldn’t agree on a place to meet up on Friday after police surrounded their initial meeting spot at the intersection of Bourke and Elizabeth streets.
Some people proposed Edinburgh Gardens as another meeting spot but protesters claimed this was “fake news”.
Self-proclaimed ‘freedom fighters’ becoming divided over what appears to be another fizzled protest despite vowing to march every day @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/GEqJpzJ3ch
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) September 24, 2021
First arrest on Bourke Street at the planned meeting point for today’s protest @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/oLi3gOurIW
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) September 24, 2021
More media and police officers than protesters or pedestrians, 5 mins before protest is due to start @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/XvFBYQTDH5
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) September 23, 2021
ARRESTS AS POLICE SWARM CITY
Police had earlier made several arrests in Melbourne’s CBD.
Officers patrolling the city were stopping pedestrians to ensure they were complying with chief health officer directives in anticipation of an illegal mass gathering.
Dozens of officers swarmed the intersection of Bourke and Elizabeth streets on Friday morning after it was flagged as a meeting point.
Protesters remained scattered as a heavy police presence descended on the CBD and surrounding suburbs.
Police also patrolled the side streets and laneways off Smith St in Fitzroy, where marchers had planned to gather.
As police arrested several people at the planned protest site of Bourke and Elizabeth streets, demonstrators scrambled to alert each other about the arrests and patrolling officers.
Fitzroy Gardens has also been touted as a potential meeting point.
Organisers had kept police and marchers on their toes by encouraging marchers to be on standby for a new meeting point after admitting demonstrators had become confused by the flurry of potential locations.
As a small mounted police brigade rode down Elizabeth St, organisers alerted protesters a new location would be announced about 10:30am for an 11am start.
“Locations from three different organisers have been released at the same time,” one organiser wrote on encrypted app Telegram.
Marchers had been encouraged by organisers to blend in throughout the CBD until they were ready to converge.
Public order responses vehicles swarmed the CBD on Friday morning in anticipation for the protesters.
Plain-clothed officers and riot police were stationed at the Queen Victoria Market while other on-foot officers patrolled nearby streets.
Confusion and speculation reigned in the chats, with some protesters planning to scatter across multiple locations before converging on the city.
NURSES WARNED TO DODGE PROTESTERS
Healthcare workers have been urged to ditch their uniforms in a bid to protect themselves from protesters who have vowed to return to Melbourne’s CBD for the fifth day in a row.
Encrypted group chats among demonstrators were a hive of activity in anticipation for crowds to “flood the CBD” and “unite with others”.
The alert issued to the thousands of Melbourne Freedom Rally Telegram group chat members has called for “no vaccine mandates” while labelling the rally a “Victorian workers rally for freedom”.
Organisers also called on nurses, doctors and teachers to march alongside the mixed crowd of tradesmen and far-right extremists.
But, they urged demonstrators to steer clear of sacred sites and places of worship such as the Shrine of Remembrance, where protesters allegedly urinated on the colonnades on Wednesday.
Hundreds of active users could be seen speculating about the planned location of Friday’s protest, with organisers expected to announce the march’s location about one hour before disruptions are due to kick off about 10am.
Prominent streets across the city have been slated as potential gathering sites, including the corner of Spring Street and Flinders Street.
The renewed calls to cause disruptions across the city come after an abysmal turnout from the self-proclaimed ‘freedom fighters’ on Thursday following three consecutive days of illegal marches.
COPS ‘FURIOUS’ OVER COVID EXPOSURE
Police officers who arrested a Covid positive man at an illegal lockdown rally are “furious” they have been exposed to the virus.
The Herald Sun understands the protester, now being treated in hospital, was tackled by multiple officers before being arrested during Wednesday’s anti-lockdown rally.
Sources said frontline police officers were angry they had been exposed to the dangerous Delta strain and were now forced to quarantine.
Read the full story here
JAB HUBS SHUT AFTER WORKERS ABUSED
Protesters spat on and abused healthcare workers during anti-lockdown demonstrations, forcing the closure of two city vaccination hubs.
Cohealth’s Melbourne Town Hall and Victoria St vax centres were shut down amid safety fears after protesters targeted staff on their way to work on Wednesday.
Cohealth chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said as a result employees were told to not wear uniforms, lanyards and scrubs until they arrived at work.
“I am distressed to report there have been several incidents of health workers being physically and verbally abused in the city, targeted because they were wearing their Cohealth identification,” Ms Bartholomeusz said
“I am shocked at the treatment of people who deserve nothing but our utmost gratitude and praise for working throughout the pandemic to ensure everyone gets the support and healthcare they need.”
She said services for the homeless would also be shut until Monday.
“This means people experiencing homelessness can no longer access vital services and supports at Central City and at least 200 people a day will no longer be able to access the vaccine from the Melbourne Town Hall,” Ms Bartholomeusz said.
“These hubs were opened as a safe place for people to come to get vaccinated if they are facing disadvantage, so shutting the doors is a very difficult decision.”
On Thursday anti-lockdown protests fizzled, running out of steam following three consecutive days of illegal demonstrations. Victoria Police arrested 92 people, most of who were issued $5452 fines for breaching Covid rules.
The self-proclaimed “freedom fighters” failed to gather in big numbers, despite the bold promise they would rally “every day” during a two-week construction lockdown.
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