Coronavirus Sydney: Mum lashes 'disgusting' police at lockdown protest

A Sydney mum has choked up as she recalled the moment her screaming son was wrenched from her arms at an anti-lockdowns protest.

COVID-19 restrictions protester Renee Altakrity broke down while being interviewed by an anti-5G group.

A Sydney mum who was arrested at a rally as her screaming son was wrenched from her arms by police officers has lashed out at what she claimed was the officers’ “disgusting actions”.

Cosmetic nurse Renee Altakrity, 36, was arrested on Saturday outside the New South Wales parliament in Sydney’s CBD during an anti-coronavirus lockdown protest.

She was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where she was fined $1000 for failing to comply with directions relating to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Police have said the protest – which attracted about 40 people – was not authorised, social distancing was not taking place and those in attendance were asked to disperse.

A struggle ensued with the mother, police said, as she resisted arrest.

On Sunday night, Ms Altakrity was interviewed online by members of a group that is opposed to 5G technology.

A number of conspiracy theories have emerged linking the spread of coronavirus to 5G, theories that have been regularly debunked.

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During the interview, Ms Altakrity teared up as she recalled the events of Saturday afternoon including the moment her distressed four-year-old son was taken from her arms as she was forced into the back of the police van.

However, she also said that police had originally allowed her to depart the protest but she had returned several times to the gathering and it was only then she was arrested.

Cosmetic nurse Renee Altakrity attended an anti lockdowns protest in Sydney. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Altakrity was at the rally sporting a banner that said “If you don't know your rights, you don't have any. Magna Carta.”

During the online interview, she said her son had asked if he could come with her to the protest because he wanted to “exercise my rights” and to hold up a sign asking to “have the parks back”.

Parks have not been closed in NSW but playground equipment has been a no-go area for several weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Ms Altakrity said she attended the really because she had done “my own research outside the box” and had a right to her opinion.

ALLOWED TO LEAVE, BUT CAME BACK

She said she was initially approached by a police officer on Macquarie St who asked for her name.

“I said no, I don't consent to give you my name, I haven't committed an offence. I said I'm going to continue walking.”

She said police allowed her to leave but she then did “one or two more laps of the street” past the protests.

It was after this that she was approached again by officers and the situation, filmed by other protesters, became fraught.

Police are seen pulling Ms Altakrity towards a police van while her son is clinging to her screaming. Several times she managed to break free of officers and at one point holds onto the railings of parliament before her son is taken from her and she is finally bundled into the van with her child.

“Looking back on it, I was really targeted (by police),” she claimed.

She said she told police she was “fighting for not only my kid’s rights, but your kids’ (rights) too”.

“When they held my wrists, my son started screaming and I went into a meltdown mode. I had an emotional moment.”

Ms Altakrity refused to give police her name.

TEARS

Choking back tears she recalled her son’s distress as she was led to the van and tempers flared among the other protesters.

“I remember my son screaming and saying ‘no, you’re not taking my mum’

“Three or four (officers) moved in and my son was ripped from me and I just remember seeing his legs waving in the air, trying to resist.

“To be separated from him was the hardest thing to deal with.”

COVID-19 restrictions protester Renee Altakrity broke down while being interviewed by an anti-5G group.

‘DISGUSTING ACTIONS’

Ms Altakrity was taken to Surry Hills Police Station with her son where, she was held for several hours. Her son was taken home by a family member.

She initially continued to refuse to provide her details but upon hearing she would be allowed to leave once she did, Ms Altakrity relented and left with her penalty infringement notice. She was reunited with her son at home.

“There were no apologies for any of the disgusting actions that happened to me. It didn’t need to happen.

“I was targeted. For what reason? I don’t know,” she claimed.

Ms Altakrity said she had the “utmost respect for the police” but “at what point do (police) actually sit back and go ‘this is wrong?’”

TINFOIL HAT

One of the interviewers, identified as Monica, denied the group were “tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorists” but asked “what’s the worst thing that could possibly happen if we are right?”

The government has said social distancing measures have been key to Australia managing to tackle COVID-19 effectively. Australia has seen less than 100 deaths so far, a small number compared to some countries.

“We're calling on the Australian police force, the Australian military, pick your side, and make it make a good choice,” Monica said.

“Because sure as hell you're not going to achieve anything when we're all dead, and you guys are the only one standing under a really, really nasty government.”

During the fracas, Ms Altakrity’s child was taken from her.

According to the “Exercising My Rights” Facebook page and website, the protests are aimed at ridding NSW of the COVID-19 lockdowns. They are currently being wound back.

“These lockdowns have stripped us of our basic liberties in an unprecedented way,” the website reads.

“People have lost their jobs, their businesses destroyed, and who knows how many lives will be lost from the consequences of these extreme social-distancing laws.”

NSW Police said the protest was unauthorised and around 40 people “were not exercising adequate social distancing”.

They were advised to move on, police said, including a 36-year-old woman who refused to provide her details to police.

“After she refused to give officers her details and would not comply with their direction to move on, police arrested the woman; however, she resisted, and a struggle ensued.

“The child was removed from the woman’s hold and she was taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where her identity was established, and she was issued an infringement notice for fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to COVID-19.

“The child was placed in the care of a relative and the Department of Family and Community Services were notified.”