‘Biggest ever’ anti-vax rally is crushed as Melbourne protesters’ attempts to evade police by repeatedly changing their location at the last minute are foiled by convoys of cops roaming the city
- Multiple anti-vax protests repeatedly foiled on Saturday across Melbourne
- Victoria Police confirmed 57 arrests, 42 fines issued, at multiple locations
- Police intercepted protesters using encrypted chat platforms to switch sites
Anti-vaxxer demonstrations in Melbourne have been thwarted by authorities despite protesters repeatedly changing the location of their rallies at the last minute in a bid to evade police.
Police on Saturday outsmarted stealthy protesters attempting to hold Australia’s ‘biggest’ rally against Covid vaccine mandates and lockdown measures in the city.
Protesters initially assembled at Princes Park in Carlton North in Melbourne’s inner-city but were met by officers on horseback who forced them to disperse.
Demonstrators then used encrypted messaging platforms including Telegram to secretly organise rallies in other parts of the city, but were foiled by police officers roaming in convoys across the Victorian capital.
By late Saturday police had arrested 57 people and fined 42 for breaching the state’s chief health officer’s directions.
Police have outsmarted stealthy anti-vax protesters attempting to hold Australia’s biggest-ever rally, managing to stay one step ahead of organisers’ multiple location switches
By late Saturday police had arrested 57 people and fined 42 for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions
Victoria Police had to coax one protester out from under a bus he was hiding beneath
Police gather on horseback to stop protesters in Melbourne. A large number of police gathered at Princess Park where protests were meant to take place
A Victoria Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the arrests were made in multiple locations and that the force would continue to enforce public health orders.
‘Victoria Police will continue to have a highly visible presence to maintain public safety, and to ensure any protest activity that breaches the CHO directions does not impact on the broader community’s right to go about their daily lives,’ the spokesman said.
Protesters assembled early on Saturday in Princes Park but were met by a large police presence, The Herald Sun reported.
Several arrests were made and protesters arriving were questioned about whether they were locals and quickly dispersed.
One woman was apprehended by police who wrestled her to the ground as she called out ‘help me, help me’ to a friend.
Another protester hid under a car and had to be coaxed out by officers.
Protesters attempted to engage Victoria Police to discuss their right to protest, but Melbourne is under stay at home orders
Victoria police arrested 57 people at multiple sites across Melbourne on Saturday
A woman is pictured being arrested as police gather to stop protesters in Melbourne on Saturday
Melbourne residents are currently subject to stay at home orders as part of emergency powers exercised by the Victorian Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton.
Organisers reportedly claimed Saturday’s protest would be ‘the biggest yet’ seen in Melbourne.
One maskless man was arrested by police and urged them to send him their ‘f***ing shitty fine’.
A man is pictured being spoken to by police as officers gathered to stop protesters in Melbourne
Earlier in the day Victoria Police made it clear they would be out in force on the streets of Melbourne.
‘There will be a highly visible police presence in the Melbourne CBD, on the roads and across the public transport network on Saturday,’ a police statement said.
‘However, those who choose to blatantly disregard the CHOs directions and put the health and safety of all Victorians in jeopardy can expect to be held accountable.’
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