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21-08-2021
By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies
MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY: Pretty impartial and fairly neutral experts believe that millions of Aussies are not only against Prime Minister Scott Morrison but also his regime may end soon because of world worst immigration policies, health, education, economic, interior and foreign even social strategies while almost during the last one and half year’s tenure of coronavirus pandemic, the so-called COVID-19 restrictions, lockdown orders, childish directives and inhuman attitude and behavior of Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) for protesters and general people particularly the fines on COVID violators (that has been declared as extortion money worldwide) would definitely sink entire Australia along with present rulers but neither the judiciary nor any other opposition is ready to oppose or block Morrison government that’s why millions of news Aussies have started to take law in their hands and come forward on streets.
According to the local media more than $1.1 million in fines will be handed down after six police officers were hospitalized and 218 people were arrested during a massive anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne.
Victoria Police said more than 4000 people converged on the city today in protest of the extension of the state’s COVID-19 lockdown.
Police arrested 218 people, issued 236 fines and have three people in custody for allegedly assaulting police.
Thousands of anti lockdown protestors have marched through Melbourne streets, with chaotic scenes as violent clashes break out with police.
Shocking footage showed a police officer being surrounded by protestors and knocked to the ground, while a colleague rushes to their aid.
There were reports projectiles were thrown at police officers including rocks, bottles and flares, while protestors were filmed screaming at cops saying “shame on you, shame on the lot of you.”
The riot squad was forced to shoot rounds of tear gas canisters at protestors after they descended on Queen Victoria Market.
Earlier in the day, dozens of police officers were seen pepper spraying and tackling demonstrators in Melbourne, while protestors have also breached police line – storming through to run down the street.
Police horses were startled as a line of protesters ran with their arms linked towards the police before they broke through the line.
There have also been flares set off as the crowd chants “freedom”.
The chaotic scenes have seen some protestors arrested, while others stopped marching to tend to pepper spray burns with some tipping whole bottles of milk on to their face.
Dr Stephen Parnis, a Melbourne emergency doctor, said injuries from the protests are being treated in already overworked, stressed emergency departments that are struggling with Victoria’s Covid-19 outbreaks and staff in isolation.
“They will all receive good care, as long as we have the resources to provide it,” he wrote on Twitter.
“We’ll provide care. We always do. But I’m disgusted with the few who assume we’ll always be able to pick up the pieces, while they do everything in their power to make a bad situation worse. #Covid19Vic Health services are a precious, finite resource. Please protect them.”
In Sydney, more than 260 fines were issued to anti-lockdown protestors, NSW police minister David Elliott revealed.
There were also 38,000 cars stopped at 14 checkpoints as part of the police operation, with 130 tickets issued to motorists, he said.
He said the lockdown was not a restriction of freedom of speech but a temporary restriction on freedom of movement.
Forty seven people were charged in relation to Saturday’s attempted protest in Sydney, with an estimated 250 people attending the protests.
One officer was injured as he was allegedly dragged on to the road by a protestor, revealed Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
The male constable was taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries to his neck and head.
A 32-year-old man from Five Dock man was arrested after allegedly assaulting the police officer at Mountain Street, Ultimo, about 12.30pm.
Mr Lanyon said it was “deplorable” that people 250 people chose to come into the CBD to protest, despite warnings and the current case numbers, adding that it wasn’t about “stopping free speech” but has always been about “stopping COVID”.
“During the state-wide operation, nearly 50 people were arrested and as investigations continue, we expect to identify more people through CCTV and social media footage,” he said.
Elliott added he was disappointed that some people still ignored all warnings to stay at home and keep their loved ones safe.
“We saw the community backlash after the last protest and that was a genuine reflection of how they saw the actions of a small minority,” he said.
“That small minority has again chosen to blatantly ignore the very clear, repeated warnings of NSW Police, which is disappointing, frustrating and – frankly – disgraceful. The actions they have taken are likely to prolong the very lockdown they were protesting about.”
Saturday’s operation was backed up by more than 1500 police on the streets, but Mr Elliott warned that police would be out in force on Sunday too for anyone thinking of attempting “protest 2.1”.
Back in Melboune, around 700 police officers were deployed to try and stop the protestors, with a police barricade set up outside of Melbourne’s parliament house.
Dozens of mounted police were stationed at the entrance to Flinders St Station as protesters egged each other on to march through them and objects were thrown at police.
Earlier, a group of protestors converged at the intersection of Elizabeth and Little Bourke streets in the city’s centre.
They congregated in the space of 10 seconds, after loud shouts rang out, reported the Herald Sun.
The crowd has been chanting: “Sack Dan Andrews”, while others are carrying signs that read “vaccines kill” and “open schools and parks now”.
