4 days ago
Clashes with police in Melbourne's CBD as Women Will Speak rally held at state parliament
There have been scuffles and angry confrontations between police and protesters who converged on Melbourne's CBD to counter a women's rights rally.
Vision shows a group of people dressed in black with their faces covered clashing with officers on Russell Street on Saturday morning.
It is believed the group was connected to a counter-protest against a Women Will Speak rally being held on the steps of state parliament on nearby Spring Street.
The rally was organised by Women's Voices Australia and attended by dozens of people.
Women's Voices Australia's social media accounts described the group as working to maintain and strengthen women's and girls' sex-based rights, freedom of speech and eliminate all forms of silencing through legislation.
A social media call-out by Trans Queer Solidarity urged counter-protesters to come wearing masks and to cover identifiable features.
"Be ungovernable," a post said.
"Don't let fascists speak.
"The terf networks are mobile again."
TERF is a term used to describe 'trans-exclusionary radical feminists'.
Police set up barricades on Spring Street to keep the two groups apart.
A small group of counter protesters banged drums, clapped hands and blew whistles while waving transgender flags.
Most members of the group did not directly confront officers on Spring Street or the rally attendees, but there was a report of a small scuffle with a member of the media.
On Friday, Victoria Police alerted the media to online posts encouraging some of the protesters to interfere with journalists covering the event, including damaging cameras.
News outlets were encouraged to consider their security arrangements.
Melbourne's CBD was declared a designated area for Saturday, allowing police to randomly search people and ask them to remove headwear, scarves and outer clothing.
Police were yet to confirm how many arrests were made.
