Protesters gather on Anzac Day to defy lockdown restriction
Likening their defiance of social distancing measures to the Anzac fight against Nazis, more than 20 people have gathered to protest against the coronavirus shutdown. The group has been slammed by as “inappropriate” and “dangerous”, with the organisers now facing hefty fines.
VIC News
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Protesters who staged an Anzac Day rally against social distancing restrictions have been criticised as “disrespectful” and “dangerous” for comparing their campaign to that of Anzac troops fighting against tyranny.
About 30 people held signs and banners at the gathering in Trafalgar in West Gippsland this afternoon calling for an end to the coronavirus lockdown.
The group met at the regional town’s train station and gave speeches where they likened their cause to soldiers fighting Nazis.
Victoria Police have confirmed organisers will be fined and the State Government slammed their actions as “not only unacceptable but dangerous”.
Protest spokesman Topher Field said they were standing up to governments who “took control over their people”.
He said people felt “bullied and threatened” and were “controlled into living lives of fear and withdrawing into our homes, stripped of our incomes and independence”.
“We are all supposed to behave as if we all have the virus, but never behave as though we had the virus and are therefore immune,” he said.
The protest, and its timing, drew a swift backlash from people condemning it as inappropriate.
Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL sub-branch vice president Jim Crowe said the protesters were “making fools of themselves”.
He said Anzac Day was not the time to push a “ridiculous” message.
“Any protest on Anzac Day is disrespectful”, he said.
“Anzac Day is a national day where we commemorate the memory of the soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice. They’ve chosen that day, probably to get maximum benefit. But I just like to think it’s all backfired and it’s maximum benefit against them.”
Mr Crowe, a Vietnam veteran, said: “If it wasn’t for the blood that was spilt by their forebears they wouldn’t have the freedom to protest.”
During the protest, people were bunched together and bumping shoulders while holding signs that read: ‘What did our Anzacs die for?’, ‘End the lockdown’ and ‘Give us our jobs back’.
In a Facebook live video taken by Mr Field, police officers are seen asking demonstrators to move the protest away from the station bus terminal but allow the demonstration to continue for another 40 minutes.
Officers eventually dispersed the crowd, and while they did not issue any on-the-spot fines, Victoria Police said on Saturday night they were continuing to investigate and would be issuing $1652 fines to the organisers.
A State Government spokeswoman said: “We have one clear message: stay home. It’s really disappointing to see that some people are still not listening.”
The protest attracted criticism on the Trafalgar Community Notice Board Facebook page, with people commenting it was “disgusting” and “idiotic”, and that those who attended should have been fined.
Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce president Scott Draper said the protest had been initiated by someone who was not a Trafalgar resident.
Mr Draper wrote in a Facebook post: “I just wanted to note that this was organised by someone from out of Trafalgar and in no way do we endorse or support this action.
“Current restrictions are in force for a reason that is bigger than all of us.”
Protests against coronavirus restrictions have been seen on a larger scale in the United States, with hundreds taking to the streets demanding an end to stay-at-home orders.
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