Police were forced to drag away climate change protesters who sparked chaos in Melbourne on Saturday.
More than 300 Extinction Rebellion activists descended on the streets, bringing traffic to a standstill and blocking access to the Princes Bridge in the CBD on at about 1pm.
Defiant activists who sat on the road were photographed being pinned down and carried away by the Public Order Response team.
A female protester was lifted up by at least five officers by her arms and legs.
Some police were seen ripping a banner from protesters while trying to move them off the roads and bridge.
More than five police officers were seen picking a female protester up by her arms and legs to remove her
Defiant activists who sat on the road were photographed being pinned down and carried away by the Public Order Response team
A male protester was also pinned down before being carried away by police by his arms and legs
Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists descended on the streets, bringing traffic to a standstill and blocking access to the Princes Bridge in the CBD on at about 1pm
‘Leave it in the ground, it is time to get with it, coal don’t dig it,’ the activists chanted.
‘Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land,’ protesters also chanted.
Signs held up read the messages ‘Stop Adani’ and ‘Tell the truth’.
Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Miriam Robinson told the Herald Sun that activists are ‘ready and willing to be arrested’.
Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Miriam Robinson told the Herald Sun that activists are ‘ready and willing to be arrested’
Two groups of protesters from the climate change group, Extinction Rebellion, blocked access to the Princes Bridge in the CBD on Saturday at about 1pm
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) informed commuters traffic and trams had been affected by the protest. Commuters are advised to use trains as an alternative
Victoria Police, members of the riot squad and the mounted brigade (pictured) were also on the ground in case tensions boiled over
Ms Robinson said the rally is to demand Australian politicians to ‘confront the worst threat Australia has ever faced’.
‘We know this type of action is inconvenient for some and we don’t set out to disrupt people’s lives needlessly,’ she said.
‘But the seriousness of the global climate crisis demands mass nonviolent, disruptive action to get the kind of urgent change we need if we want to avoid catastrophe.’
Extinction Rebellion said on their website they organised the protest to ‘draw attention to the climate and ecological emergency we are facing.’
Victoria Police, members of the riot squad and the mounted brigade were also on the ground in case tensions boiled over.
Police warned the protesters they will use ‘reasonable force’ to move them and bring traffic flow back to normal. Some officers were seen ripping a banner from protesters while trying to move them off the roads and bridge
Officers partially closed off Flinders Street from Market Street until the group were moved on.
Several tram services along Swanson Street and St Kilda Road were also halted.
Commuters were advised to use trains as an alternative.
Victoria Police said they were ‘aware of protest activity’ planned.
‘Police have common law powers to prevent a breach of the peace, including but not limited to separating rival groups, preventing access to an area and restraining or detaining people until the peace is restored,’ police spokeswoman Alex Day said.
Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi was joined by hundreds of other protesters who also rallied in the city calling for an end to discrimination of refugees.
The Bahrain-born 25-year-old has travelled a rocky road, including a stint in a Bangkok jail, to realise his dream of a life in Australia.
Hundreds of protesters, including former refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi (pictured), also rallied in Melbourne and called for an end to discrimination of refugees and to provide them with more rights
His detention sparked the ‘Save Hakeem’ campaign to return him to Australia before becoming the star defender for the semi-professional Pascoe Vale Soccer Club.
‘Please Scott Morrison help these people,’ Mr Al-Araibi told hundreds of activists.
‘I have a small message to this government, you have given me citizenship here as a refugee but there are dozens of people here.’
Another rally also held on Saturday by Pro Life and Pro Choice protesters at Sydney’s Hyde Park where the two groups clashed.
The groups came together over a bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW.
The government will debate on the draft legislation in the upper house on Tuesday.
Another rally also held on Saturday by Pro Life and Pro Choice protesters at Sydney’s Hyde Park where the two groups clashed. The groups came together over a bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW