Four arrested as pro-trans protesters clash with police
A 19-year-old Wallington woman and a 27-year-old Coburg man were arrested for allegedly possessing flares and are expected to be charged on summons. A 33-year-old man from Oakleigh South was arrested for failing to move on and is also expected to be charged on summons.
After they arrived at Carlton Gardens at noon, the pro-trans protesters yelled at assembled media to 'f--- off' and threw an umbrella at one journalist. The group then dispersed.
About 50 people gathered near the steps of Parliament House for the women's rights rally.
The small gathering was flanked by police officers and the mounted branch on either side.
'There's not an area of public life that gender identity doesn't destroy in relation to women's rights,' rally organiser Jasmine Sussex told the group.
Two sets of barriers separated the Women Will Speak rally from a smaller group of 20 pro-trans protesters who had not been redirected from Spring Street.
The smaller group of counter-protesters banged drums and blew bubbles while chanting 'too many coppers, not enough justice'. Police conducted 145 searches but found no weapons.
At 1pm, the women's rights rally finished, and counter-protesters were instructed to leave the area at 1.25pm as barriers were removed.
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The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Four arrested as pro-trans protesters clash with police
At the corner of Albert and Gisborne streets, police approached a woman they believed had thrown a flare earlier and asked others to remove their masks. As police tried to arrest the woman, other protesters grabbed her and tried to pull her pack into the larger protest group. People were forced to the ground, unmasked and arrested. A 19-year-old Wallington woman and a 27-year-old Coburg man were arrested for allegedly possessing flares and are expected to be charged on summons. A 33-year-old man from Oakleigh South was arrested for failing to move on and is also expected to be charged on summons. After they arrived at Carlton Gardens at noon, the pro-trans protesters yelled at assembled media to 'f--- off' and threw an umbrella at one journalist. The group then dispersed. About 50 people gathered near the steps of Parliament House for the women's rights rally. The small gathering was flanked by police officers and the mounted branch on either side. 'There's not an area of public life that gender identity doesn't destroy in relation to women's rights,' rally organiser Jasmine Sussex told the group. Two sets of barriers separated the Women Will Speak rally from a smaller group of 20 pro-trans protesters who had not been redirected from Spring Street. The smaller group of counter-protesters banged drums and blew bubbles while chanting 'too many coppers, not enough justice'. Police conducted 145 searches but found no weapons. At 1pm, the women's rights rally finished, and counter-protesters were instructed to leave the area at 1.25pm as barriers were removed.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Arrests made as women's rights rally draws opposition
Four people have been arrested as protests in Melbourne's CBD turned scrappy. Tensions began to flare mid-morning between police and masked protesters in black believed to be rallying in opposition to a nearby demonstration for "women's sex-based rights". Some members of the media were also caught in the fracas outside the state's parliament house and surrounds as cameras and other equipment were targeted by masked activists. Victorian Police said pepper spray was used and four arrests were made, including a man in his early 20s who hit an officer with an umbrella. Two protesters were charged with allegedly possessing flares and a fourth for failing to move on. Three officers were injured, Victoria Police said, though none needed to be taken to hospital. A group of about 80 gathered to counter-protest a scheduled Women Will Speak demonstration against Victoria's anti-vilification laws. Roughly 50 attended the Women Will Speak rally, cordoned off and guarded by police, where "restore women's sex-based rights" was among the slogans adorning banners. The two groups were separated with water-filled barriers and a heavy police presence, a decision made by police after "disruptive behaviour" in April when similar protests took place. Riot unit and mounted police were among the officers deployed on Saturday. At one point during the rally, photographer Luis Ascui tried to intervene to stop a colleague's camera equipment being damaged by a protester. "They have a right to protest, but they don't have the right to attack us when we're doing a job," he told AAP. A neo-Nazi group was also reportedly planning on crashing the rally but it was unclear if any individuals turned up. Four people have been arrested as protests in Melbourne's CBD turned scrappy. Tensions began to flare mid-morning between police and masked protesters in black believed to be rallying in opposition to a nearby demonstration for "women's sex-based rights". Some members of the media were also caught in the fracas outside the state's parliament house and surrounds as cameras and other equipment were targeted by masked activists. Victorian Police said pepper spray was used and four arrests were made, including a man in his early 20s who hit an officer with an umbrella. Two protesters were charged with allegedly possessing flares and a fourth for failing to move on. Three officers were injured, Victoria Police said, though none needed to be taken to hospital. A group of about 80 gathered to counter-protest a scheduled Women Will Speak demonstration against Victoria's anti-vilification laws. Roughly 50 attended the Women Will Speak rally, cordoned off and guarded by police, where "restore women's sex-based rights" was among the slogans adorning banners. The two groups were separated with water-filled barriers and a heavy police presence, a decision made by police after "disruptive behaviour" in April when similar protests took place. Riot unit and mounted police were among the officers deployed on Saturday. At one point during the rally, photographer Luis Ascui tried to intervene to stop a colleague's camera equipment being damaged by a protester. "They have a right to protest, but they don't have the right to attack us when we're doing a job," he told AAP. A neo-Nazi group was also reportedly planning on crashing the rally but it was unclear if any individuals turned up. Four people have been arrested as protests in Melbourne's CBD turned scrappy. Tensions began to flare mid-morning between police and masked protesters in black believed to be rallying in opposition to a nearby demonstration for "women's sex-based rights". Some members of the media were also caught in the fracas outside the state's parliament house and surrounds as cameras and other equipment were targeted by masked activists. Victorian Police said pepper spray was used and four arrests were made, including a man in his early 20s who hit an officer with an umbrella. Two protesters were charged with allegedly possessing flares and a fourth for failing to move on. Three officers were injured, Victoria Police said, though none needed to be taken to hospital. A group of about 80 gathered to counter-protest a scheduled Women Will Speak demonstration against Victoria's anti-vilification laws. Roughly 50 attended the Women Will Speak rally, cordoned off and guarded by police, where "restore women's sex-based rights" was among the slogans adorning banners. The two groups were separated with water-filled barriers and a heavy police presence, a decision made by police after "disruptive behaviour" in April when similar protests took place. Riot unit and mounted police were among the officers deployed on Saturday. At one point during the rally, photographer Luis Ascui tried to intervene to stop a colleague's camera equipment being damaged by a protester. "They have a right to protest, but they don't have the right to attack us when we're doing a job," he told AAP. A neo-Nazi group was also reportedly planning on crashing the rally but it was unclear if any individuals turned up. Four people have been arrested as protests in Melbourne's CBD turned scrappy. Tensions began to flare mid-morning between police and masked protesters in black believed to be rallying in opposition to a nearby demonstration for "women's sex-based rights". Some members of the media were also caught in the fracas outside the state's parliament house and surrounds as cameras and other equipment were targeted by masked activists. Victorian Police said pepper spray was used and four arrests were made, including a man in his early 20s who hit an officer with an umbrella. Two protesters were charged with allegedly possessing flares and a fourth for failing to move on. Three officers were injured, Victoria Police said, though none needed to be taken to hospital. A group of about 80 gathered to counter-protest a scheduled Women Will Speak demonstration against Victoria's anti-vilification laws. Roughly 50 attended the Women Will Speak rally, cordoned off and guarded by police, where "restore women's sex-based rights" was among the slogans adorning banners. The two groups were separated with water-filled barriers and a heavy police presence, a decision made by police after "disruptive behaviour" in April when similar protests took place. Riot unit and mounted police were among the officers deployed on Saturday. At one point during the rally, photographer Luis Ascui tried to intervene to stop a colleague's camera equipment being damaged by a protester. "They have a right to protest, but they don't have the right to attack us when we're doing a job," he told AAP. A neo-Nazi group was also reportedly planning on crashing the rally but it was unclear if any individuals turned up.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Sky News AU
Violence erupts in Melbourne's CBD as pro-trans rights activists clash with police
Several hardcore pro-trans rights protestors were arrested following violent clashes with police and media outlets following a rally in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday. Police have arrested four people, while three officers were injured but did not require hospital treatment. About 80 pro-trans rights activists arrived at Parliament House about 11am to counter-protest against an organised women's rights rally over the state government's new anti-vilification laws and women's based sex rights. The 'Women Will Speak' rally was organised by Women's Voices Australia. The pro-trans rights counter-protestors were moved away from Parliament House ahead of the protest. Activists were seen dressed in black from head to toe, as they clashed with police on Spring St towards Carlton Gardens. Pepper spray was deployed at a number of violent protestors who attempted to interfere and damage media cameras with umbrellas. The Herald Sun reported one was seen damaging and stealing a News Corp photographer's camera gear about 11am on Spring St. A 21-year-old Flemington man was arrested after he allegedly struck a police officer with an umbrella at the intersection of Russell and Lonsdale Streets just before 11.30am, police said. The man has since been charged with assault. A 19-year-old Wallington woman and a 27-year-old man from Coburg were arrested after allegedly being in possession of flares, and a 33-year-old Oakleigh South man was arrested for failing to move on. All three are expected to be charged on summons. 'Victoria Police respects the right for peaceful protest however will not tolerate unlawful behaviour,' a police spokeswoman said. 'Our top priority was keeping the peace and ensuring the safety of those attending and the broader community.' Police said about 145 searches were conducted with 50 directions given to protestors to remove face coverings. Both groups dispersed just before 2pm before Spring St reopened to traffic and trams. Prior to the clashes, the pro-trans group were not only standing up for the rights of transgender people, but were reportedly seen chanting support for Palestine, anti-police chants and other social issues. The pro-trans group last week encouraged Saturday's protest attendees to hide their appearance. 'Even if you're not planning on doing anything spicy, being covered up gives the people around you protection for the ways they may wish to counter the state by providing cover and anonymity in numbers,' the group said. 'If things get more tense than you expected, bloc gives you anonymity to protect yourself and gives you the freedom to react as you need to.'
