Protest in the time of Covid-19

Championing free speech is one of our missions, especially in an era when many powerful forces are allied against it, including foreign governments, university administrators and rampant groupthink in its many dismal guises. Defending the right of people to be heard is not pain-free either, as it often involves giving free air to bad ideas or cranks. Yet there are reasonable limits to what is OK in the public square, especially when the vulnerable are vilified, lives are endangered or activists spruik hateful ideologies. Black Lives Matter is certainly a cause that should be heard and is being heard. The horrible death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May has galvanised the world. But the BLM rally planned for Sydney on Tuesday was always a bad idea. After two adverse decisions in the courts, it was also against the law.

Ahead of the protest, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the state was at a “very critical point” in managing the COVID-19 outbreak. “It only takes a few cases for this thing to get out of control. We have seen that in Victoria,” she said. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt advised BLM sympathisers the event was inappropriate and dangerous during a pandemic. “I could not be clearer. Please, do not go. Express your views on social media, a silent vigil outside your place of residence, whatever other means, but not gathering in large groups,” he said. In the end people stayed away, although protest leaders did their bit for the TV cameras as they were arrested by police and tore up infringement notices. A bigger turnout no doubt would have done damage to the BLM cause.

Yet a movement without nobility is active in Melbourne, where wearing a face mask in public is now mandatory. A woman who refused to comply with the mask edict, claiming it was against her human rights, confronted store workers at a suburban Bunnings. She recorded the exchange; lowering the tone was just the beginning of her ambush. The video taken by the woman went viral. Who could be so stupid? Another of her ilk was given airtime on the Nine Network’s Today on Tuesday before the presenters pulled the pin on this idiocy. Now another group of coronavirus deniers is planning an anti-mask protest at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, shamefully trading off the prestige of Anzac. The nutters are spouting dangerous views. As Hunter S. Thompson declared, “when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”.

Right now, Melbourne can do with less gonzo fear and loathing and more public health compliance to limit community transmission. Victoria’s COVID-19 death toll soared to 63 on Tuesday, with the total number of active cases in the state rising to 4775. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews pleaded with citizens to wear masks. Victoria Police has vowed to fine anyone found deliberately breaching the public health directive of the state’s Chief Health Officer. The Committee for Sydney, a private think tank, is now calling on the NSW government to make face masks mandatory across the city, arguing that doing so will limit the need for a second lockdown and avoid more economic disruption. While Ms Berejiklian and CHO Kerry Chant have encouraged the use of masks, they have resisted making it compulsory.

When asked about the coronavirus deniers’ claims of a breach of civil rights on masks, Scott Morrison backed his health officials. “There is no agenda behind public health advice,” the Prime Minister said. “They are simply trying to give us as leaders the best possible expert opinion on how we can keep Australians safe.” Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he? They’re all in it together, right? Actually, they are in cahoots — politicians, doctors and community leaders. The first duty of governments and their officials is to keep people safe. As Mr Morrison said, we also have a collective responsibility to each other in the time of COVID-19. For a short time we may have to give up liberties, large and small, and find new but safer ways to raise our voices in pursuit of the greater public good.