Refugee activists call off protest at Brisbane’s Story Bridge

Refugee activists have called off Saturday’s planned sit-in on one of Brisbane’s key bridges after several lead organisers were banned from participating.

Brisbane’s Story Bridge. Picture: AAP

Refugee activists have called off Saturday’s planned sit-in on one of Brisbane’s key bridges after several lead organisers were banned from participating by the Supreme Court.

Instead, the demonstration against the detention conditions of more than 120 refugees — many of whom have been housed in an inner-city hotel at Kangaroo Point for several years — has been moved from the Story Bridge to a nearby park.

The court barred three organisers of the Refugee Solidarity Brisbane Meanjin group and local Greens councillor member Jonathan Sri from ­attending or promoting any protest action on or near the bridge.

In a statement posted on the group’s Facebook page, activists said they would stand firm in their decision to protest.

“We expect any attempt to sit down on the bridge to be met with a large police presence, including the use of chemical weapons and mounted police. With all this in mind, we don‘t think we can take the bridge as initially planned,” the statement read.