Spring Rebellion protest’s activists jam cities to a halt as crowds flood streets in Australia

Protests are being held across the country. Picture: Phoebe Loomes. Source: Supplied. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

SYDNEY, Oct 7, 2019, News.com.au. Chaotic scenes have played out in cities across the country as climate change activists block major roads, grind traffic to a halt and get dragged away by police. Elderly people and men in suits have been seen being dragged through Broadway, Sydney, as crowds block the busy arterial road headed out of the city. Police arrested 30 people in the CBD today over alleged offences including obstruct traffic to disobey reasonable direction, reported the News.com.au.

Extinction Rebellion activists planned to shut down capital cities around the world today — blocking roads, bridges, transport links and more — to demand urgent government action to address the climate and ecological emergency.

News.com.au saw about 15 protesters of various ages being arrested in quick succession at Broadway this afternoon, including teenagers and seniors.

The activists became heated as police calmly escorted some protesters away.

Some protesters staged a sit-in and police were struggling to move them on.

The protesters were using chants, drums, flags and loud speakers as part of the demonstration.

Police dragged away the protesters’ pink water tank they had placed on the road and chained themselves inside.

The tank read “rebel for life” and protesters were in it for more than an hour, with fire and rescue crews forced to cut them out and activists cheering each time someone emerged.

They could be heard chanting “water for life”.

One of the protesters, Peter Matheson, said the water tanks were to signal the drought crisis.

“There’s already no water in half of this state, this government is not fit for office,” he said.

“We gonna get bigger and more colourful. We’re not going away on this.

“The people in the country are suffering. We need the government to mitigate the damage being done. This just isn’t acceptable any more.”

Police mounted on four horses created a stand-off, blocking the path of the demonstrators, who were chanting “our water, our streets”.

“It’s very tense scenes down here,” a news.com.au reporter said from the scene.

“Lots of concern for a woman protesters claim was roughly handled by police.

“She’s currently sat handcuffed on the ground with a red mark on her wrist.

“Protesters are arguing with police who have made a line in front of her.

“One female cop turned around and said to a protester, ‘she’s been in custody for five minutes, I think she’ll be all right’.”

Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing, said public safety was the number one priority for police during any protest activity.

“While police respect the right of individuals and groups to protest, we have a responsibility to the community and local businesses to ensure they can go about their normal activities without being impacted on or put at risk,” he said.

“Unfortunately, despite the warnings issued by local police and our colleagues from across the country, this group continue to set out to break the law and put themselves and others at risk.

“We are aware that this particular group of protesters intend to cause significant disruption to the community, and any future activity of this nature will not be tolerated by NSW Police.

“Anyone who choses to flout the rules and cause trouble should expect to feel the full force of the law.”

In Brisbane at least six people were arrested after attaching themselves to large wooden boxes dropped in the middle of the road.

As police loaded the protesters into a paddy wagon, other Extinction Rebellion members taunted with cries of “job well done” and “too many cops, not enough justice”.

Demonstrations were taking place in more than 60 cities around the world today, including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth and Hobart.

The group said “a large cohort of activists in each city are ready and willing to be arrested as they make a stand against the negligence of governments to act on this major threat to life itself”.

It said the series of mass protests would focus on specific themes, including the need for governments, the media, and other key institutions to “tell the truth” and “act now”.

This protest, known in Australia as the Spring Rebellion, follows the first Extinction Rebellion event in April, which saw rebels disrupt the centre of London for two weeks, resulting in the UK Government declaring a climate emergency.

“In Australia, the rapid growth of Extinction Rebellion reflects the deep concern ordinary people are now feeling about the climate crisis,” the group wrote in a media release.

“We are experiencing the first taste of the massive disasters to come; record-smashing droughts, deadly blazes, monster storms and floods.

“Globally, millions of people are already running out of water as farming land turns to desert.
“Refugees flee climate chaos as they are forced from their homes. Mass animal extinctions are already happening.”

The group said it was calling on leaders to face up to the worst crisis in history.

Share it


Exclusive: Beyond the Covid-19 world's coverage