‘Use them as a speed bump’: Kerri-Anne Kennerley suggests running over climate change protesters

Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley has been slammed for a controversial comment about climate change protesters.

Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley has slammed climate change protesters, suggesting motorists should “use them as a speed bump”.

Kennerley made the comments on the Channel 10 show this morning after a news story about arrests of Extinction Rebellion protesters currently disrupting traffic and services across the country as part of a week-long “Spring Rebellion”.

“Personally, I would leave them all super glued to wherever they do it,” she said.

“The guy hanging from the Story Bridge. Why send emergency services? Leave him there until he gets himself out. No emergency services should help them, nobody should do anything, and you just put little witches hats around them, or use them as a speed bump.”

Co-host Sarah Harris said, “God, you’re going to get us into trouble.” Kennerley added, “Is that wrong? Put them in jail and forget to feed them. Put them in some of the aged care homes around Australia, that would really sort them out.”

Extinction Rebellion activists march in Brisbane on Monday. Picture: Regi Varghese/AAP

Extinction Rebellion spokesman James Norman condemned Kennerley’s comments. “I would just point out Extinction Rebellion is a peaceful, nonviolent organisation at the centre of all our tactics and messaging,” he told news.com.au.

“Kerri-Anne Kennerley really should think very carefully before making such statements about the impacts they could have. The motivation behind Extinction Rebellion is just to draw attention to the climate emergency, and we always seek to do so in a disruptive but strictly nonviolent manner.”

Mr Norman added, “Respect for other people is at the centre of our ethos and principles, and I would hope other people, especially public commentators, would approach us with the same level of respect for common decency.”

Kerri-Anne Kennerley just said #ExtinctionRebellion & #ClimateChange protesters should be left glued to the road and used as speed bumps.
Then went on to say lock them up and starve them.

Can #Studio10 seek help for #KAK cos this is sad. She has real issues. 🍷😵#auspol

— SMH @ ⚪ PPL (@Blackpa88881387) October 8, 2019

Kerri-Anne Kennerly becomes more irrelevant with every desperately controversial thing she says, she is slowly fading from view like Marty McFly’s family in that photo

— stonkbroeker (@maxuthink) October 8, 2019

Kerri-Anne Kennerley can advocate violence against well-intentioned protesters and keep a slot on the air, whereas I can advocate violence against nazis and fascists and have my account locked and deleted, if I don't get pigs knocking on my door. 🤔

— â’¶imee Terese #FreeChelseaManning (@AbolishAus) October 8, 2019

Starting to think Kerri-Anne wants to be cancelled.

— Whiskey Houston (@RobCoco) October 8, 2019

Seeing reports Kerri-Anne Kennerley reckons #ExtinctionRebellion demonstrators should be used as speed bumps, thrown in jail & left to starve.

Bugger tweeting article. What is it with these cruel, ignorant RWNJs like KAK, Prue MacSween—always wanting to run people down. #auspol pic.twitter.com/A6tUex4PlS

— 💧🌏🏳️‍🌈Jenny Frecklington-Jones; #HowDareYou (@Triplejay58) October 9, 2019

We're already had a mentally ill man drive his car into a crowd in Melbourne CBD. Kerri Anne Kennerley advocating for climate protesters to be "used as human speed bumps." Is nothing short of criminal & she should be changed with inciting violence. #FederalPolice #auspol

— Claudia Santini (@claudia980980) October 9, 2019

#auspol Kerry Anne Kennerly should be removed from her position of tv host @10NewsFirst for her comments regarding human beings who's only real crime is to care about our planet! Shame Kennerley! Shame!

— brenda kellaway (@redned59) October 9, 2019

Users on social media slammed the commentator.

“Starting to think Kerri-Anne wants to be cancelled,” one Twitter user wrote.

Another said, “Kerri-Anne Kennerly becomes more irrelevant with every desperately controversial thing she says, she is slowly fading from view like Marty McFly’s family in that photo.”

One Twitter user questioned why Kennerley “can advocate violence against well-intentioned protesters and keep a slot on the air” but if they “advocate violence against Nazis and fascists” their account is “locked and deleted, if I don’t get pigs knocking on my door”.

“Can Studio 10 seek help for KAK ‘cos this is sad. She has real issues,” another said.

One person asked, “What is it with these cruel, ignorant RWNJs (right-wing nutjobs) like KAK, Prue MacSween — always wanting to run people down?”

Kerri-Anne Kennerley is no stranger to controversy.

Another pointed out that “we’ve already had a mentally ill man drive his car into a crowd in Melbourne CBD”, saying Kennerley “advocating for climate protesters to be ‘used as human speed bumps’ is nothing short of criminal and she should be changed with inciting violence”.

“Kerri-Anne Kennerly should be removed from her position of TV host for her comments regarding human beings whose only real crime is to care about our planet!” another said. “Shame, Kennerley! Shame!”

Earlier this week, the industry watchdog cleared Channel 10 of breaching standards for airing a heated exchange that led to co-host Yumi Stynes accusing Kennerly of racism.

A Channel 10 spokesman said, “This morning on Studio 10 Kerri-Anne Kennerly made comments regarding climate protesters that were said in jest. Before the show concluded, Sarah Harris reiterated the tone of her remarks, affirming that Kerri-Anne wasn’t inciting violence.”

He added, “Kerri-Anne confirmed that she was indeed speaking in hyperbole and her words were clearly a joke. There was no intent to cause offence. Over the past few days, Studio 10 has extensively addressed a range of opinions on this subject.”

It comes after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said “enough is enough” and that she wanted protesters sent to prison. “Someone is going to get hurt,” Ms Palaszczuk told The Courier-Mail on Tuesday. “Most people do the right thing, it’s just this group who need to be brought under control.”

Protestors at Town Hall in Sydney on Tuesday. Picture: Rick Rycroft/AP

On Studio 10, Kennerley said Ms Palaszczuk was “absolutely right, it’s not only an inconvenience”. “Protesting, fine. But do it where you don’t upset or have to use emergency services,” she said. “Emergency services are not for morons. Why don’t all you extremists go to China or Saudi Arabia and do it? That’s my idea.”

Ten Extinction Rebellion protesters in Brisbane — including Paul Jukes, who suspended himself in a hammock from Story Bridge — were arrested and charged yesterday. Jukes is due to face court today.

Extinction Rebellion ringleader Eric ‘Serge’ Herbert faced Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday, where avoided jail after breaking his bail by protesting in the Brisbane CBD on Monday.

Herbert pleaded guilty to breaching a bail condition and failing to provide a name and address to police, but avoided a conviction and was given 40 hours of community service.

The court heard he had now accumulated more than $2000 in fines. Last week Herbert was banned from entering the Brisbane CBD after being arrested for illegal protesting for the seventh time.

There were 56 arrests in Melbourne on Tuesday, according to Extinction Rebellion, and more than 40 people have been arrested in Sydney so far.

[e-mail]

— with AAP