Protesters disrupt meeting by chanting ‘shame on you’ at City of Monash councillors

Police were called to a City of Monash council meeting as opposing groups of protesters faced off over plans for a drag story time event.

Victoria Police officers had to stand between two groups of protesters inside the City of Monash council building on Wednesday night as tensions flared.

Hundreds of angry protesters have clashed at a City of Monash council meeting in response to a drag story time event planned for next month.

Monash City Council will hold a drag story time event at a local library in May, aiming to introduce children to “diverse role models and encourages acceptance, love, and respect of people in our LGBTIQA+ community.”

On Wednesday night, around 100 residents and non-community members attended the meeting, where they continuously chanted “shame on you” as councillors vowed not to change their stance on the event.

The councils’s mayor, Tina Samardzija, was forced to temporarily suspend the meeting when questions about the drag event agitated the public gallery.

A large group of protesters in support of the drag story time event then came face-to-face with their opponents, separated by about a dozen Victoria Police officers in the foyer of the council building.

They hurled abuse at each other as two councillors were given a police escort from the building.

The council meeting resumed just after 8.30pm to another chorus of yelling and chanting.

Monash Councillor Dr Josh Fergeus told the Herald Sun people were attempting to “override” local democracy through physical intimidation and threats of violence.

“It’s appalling to see this behaviour. I’ve encouraged anyone who will listen to stay away and stay safe,” he said.

Dr Fergeus said everyone was entitled to participate in local democracy but that entitlement was predicated on engaging peacefully and respectfully.

“The behaviour on display was simply appalling,” he said.

Monash Council chief executive officer Dr Andi Diamond said the council received a significant and sudden increase in correspondence via email, social media, and phone when its Monash Library IDAHOBIT Day event was shared through online groups in late March.

“Council is used to working and communicating with people in a heightened state, but the level of anger related to this issue has been concerning — with direct approaches to councillors and staff at times overstepping the line of what we believe to be appropriate,” Dr Diamond said.

“We have regularly checked in with staff and councillors to ensure our people are supported, including referring some responses to senior staff.”

Dr Diamond said drag storytime introduced children to diverse role models and encouraged acceptance, love, and respect of people in our LGBTIQA+ community.

“Our Monash Library will host this as part of our IDAHOBIT Day celebrations in May, the event was listed on our library website but taken down after it sold out as is usual process.”

The storytime event will take place on May 19.