Police have fired rubber bullets at anti-vaccination protesters who set up camp atop Melbourne‘s war memorial in the hopes police wouldn’t fire on them out of respect for fallen Anzacs.
The protesters, who have been rallying for three days to demand an end to mandatory vaccinations for construction workers, swarmed Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance which was built to honour the state’s men and women who served in the First World War.
Throughout on Wednesday the mob chanted ‘lest we forget’ as they marched on the sacred monument, decked out in body armour and helmets in anticipation of a police attack while others sang chants urging officers not to arrest them out of ‘respect for the Anzacs’.
Eventually, the patients of riot squad police wore thin and officers started blasting the hi-vis wearing demonstrators with a flurry rubber bullets – sending the protesters scattering away from the wild scene.
Police also fired pepper balls and stinger grenades to disperse the crowd.
Police have fired rubber bullets at anti-vaccination protesters who set up camp atop Melbourne ‘s war memorial in the hopes police wouldn’t fire on them out of respect for fallen Anzacs
Protesters set up camp at Melbourne’s war memorial in the hope police wouldn’t fire on them out of respect for fallen Anzacs
Riot Police moved protesters on at the Shrine of Remembrance as they rally against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations
Some were decked out in body armour or helmets in anticipation of a police attack while others sang chants urging police not to arrest them out of ‘respect for the Anzacs’
Protesters waved flags as they marched on the war memorial which was set up to honour fallen soldiers in First World War
The protesters were totally surrounded by police with no way to escape. Officers decided not to fire tear gas
The demonstrators, many wearing high-vis clothing, chanted and waved placards as police officers surrounded them
Cops wearing riot gear and holding shields surrounded the protesters during the tense stand off on Wednesday afternoon
Protesters walk down Swanston Street in the CBD on September 22, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Protests started on Monday over new Covid-19 vaccine requirements for construction workers but turned into larger and at times violent demonstrations
Freedom protesters, who want an end to Covid-19 lockdown rules, lit flares as they swarmed the CBD on Wednesday
Officers completely surrounded the protesters and prepared for a gas attack to flush them out
Left: Protesters march through the CBD. Right: A police officer holding a non-lethal gun at the shine protest
Dozens of officers completely surrounded the protesters and prepared for a gas attack to flush them out while the demonstrators shouted ‘join us’ at the police and also sang the national anthem.
But two hours into the stand-off police had still not fired gas and were telling protesters to leave to avoid being arrested.
By about 4pm many protesters left along St Kilda Road after police parted to create a small exit route for them – but hundreds of diehards remained, chanting ‘stand your ground’. Among them were two parents accompanied by four small children.
RSL Victoria slammed the protesters, saying they were ‘completely disrespecting the sanctity’ of the shrine,
‘Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance is a sacred place, of critical importance to the current and ex-service members of our community, for commemorating service and for the remembrance of those who have died performing their patriotic duty,’ a statement read.
‘Under no circumstances, ever, should the Shrine be a place of protest.
‘If any individuals or groups choose to express their political views, positions or ideological theories in the grounds of the Shrine at any time, they are completely disrespecting the sanctity of this time-honoured space, those men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have lost their lives, and all Victorian veterans.’
The chair of the Shrine of Remembrance Captain Stephen Bowater said the protest was ‘disgraceful and disrespectful to the honoured memory of Australian service men and women’.
Thousands of demonstrators showed their opposition to vaccination passports and mandatory vaccinations
Protesters sit on the lawn at the Shrine of Remembrance as they rally against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations and a two week shutdown of the construction industry
Police pepper spray a protester during a rally against Covid-19 regulations in Melbourne on September 22
Riot Police watch on as protesters gather at the Shrine of Remembrance as they rally against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations
A smiling protester makes the peace sign as he rallies with hundreds of other anti-vaccination tradesmen in Melbourne
One protester held a sign saying ‘not here for violence, I’m here for a choice’ as he marches through the Melbourne CBD
Protesters walk down Swanston Street in the Melbourne CBD during the third day of anti-vaccination demonstrations
Protest organisers used megaphones to plead with those trapped near the shrine to ‘clean up their garbage’ and dispose of any weapons they may be packing.
Buses containing police were earlier seen heading to the memorial in Kings Domain on St Kilda, accompanied by scores of police cars with lights and sirens flashing.
In the morning, images and footage from the CBD show officers handcuffing dozens of demonstrators for breaching stay-at-home orders on Wednesday morning after police vowed they would be better prepared for violence since being caught off guard on Tuesday.
Another dramatic video showed panicked protesters running away from police who opened fire using pellet guns which project blunt-force pellets the size of marbles that feel like a ‘hard punch’ on impact.
Daily Mail Australia witnessed one man being pepper sprayed infront of his teenage son near the CFMEU building which has been the target of violent protests since Monday.
Protesters were seen taunting police guarding the headquarters after entering Victoria Street at 12.30pm, lighting flares and swearing at heavily armoured police.
A protester wearing a CFMEU hat removed his top as he marched through the CBD in protest against mandatory vaccinations
A police officer detains a protester as construction workers and demonstrators march on the streets against the Covid-19 regulations in Melbourne
Protesters wore body armour or helmets in anticipation of a police attack as they marched through Melbourne’s CBD
A lone protester challenges anti-riot police as construction workers and demonstrators march on the streets against Covid-19 regulations
Despite Melbourne’s stay-at-home orders and a warning from authorities, several hundred demonstrators returned to the CBD on Wednesday morning.
One man told a live stream he walked to the shrine because ‘those people died for us, and now they want to take away out freedom’.
Earlier, riot police moved in to shut down dozens of people marching down Elizabeth and Collins streets.
A group of protesters sought cover in a nearby Chemist Warehouse after police pelted them with non-lethal rounds and pepper spray.
Deputy Premier James Merlino refused to call those in the city protesters, instead describing the scenes as ‘a mob acting criminally’.
He said they were putting health workers, themselves and the Victorian public at risk.
‘What we have seen over the last two or three days is criminal behaviour that does not represent our great state in any way, shape or form and that behaviour will not drive our case numbers down,’ he told reporters in Melbourne.
Police have permission to use crowd control force against anyone trying to repeat the seven-hour ‘cat and mouse’ game seen in Melbourne on Tuesday, when up to 2000 protesters led police across the city and shut down the West Gate Bridge.
A blonde woman is arrested in Melbourne’s CBD on Wednesday morning as police cracked down on Covid rule-breakers
Police holding pellet guns and wearing protective gear including masks marched through Melbourne on Wednesday
Victoria Police make arrests during a protest against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations. One man appears to have been wrapped in a blanket by officers
Police held one man’s head to the ground during a violent arrest. Other arrests were less violent such as this one (left) that did not require handcuffs
Protesters gather in Melbourne’s CBD ahead of another day of protesting. Police were seen speaking to and arresting several protesters on Wednesday
Heavily-armed riot police were backed up by hundreds of regular officers who marched the streets on Wednesday
Members of the Victoria Police Public Order Response Team during a protest against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations and a two week shutdown of the construction industry
Heavily protected riot police walked through Melbourne’s CBD to disperse protesters on Wednesday morning
Earlier on Wednesday Daniel Andrews blasted violent protesters who caused chaos in Melbourne over the past two days as police vowed to use new tactics to fight back with more carnage expected.
About 2,000 tradesmen and anti-vaccination and freedom campaigners rampaged through the city for ten hours on Tuesday to demonstrate against a two-week shutdown of the construction industry imposed due to rising Covid cases.
Police – who were caught short by the hastily organised protest – said 62 people were arrested on Tuesday after footage showed violent thugs attacking police by throwing cans or punching them in the street.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison broadcast live from Washington DC – where he met with President Joe Bide earlier – to denounce the protests and call for calm.
‘These are important jobs and they will return, we will get through this but protest activity and what we have seen there is highly distressing and that is not an appropriate response to trying to deal with an outbreak of this nature,’ he said.
Protests started on Monday over new COVID-19 vaccine requirements for construction workers but turned into larger and at times violent demonstration. Pictured: An arrest on Wednesday
A protesters was arrested after receiving a nasty cut on his head during a clash with police in Melbourne on Wednesday
Members of Victorian Police detain a women at the corner of Elizabeth St and Victoria St near the CFMEU Building on September 22
Footage shows police officers handcuffing at least one male and two female demonstrators on Wednesday morning
Mr Andrews said the actions were an ‘insult’ to the majority of law-abiding tradies and said the protesters were not just builders but also far-right freedom and anti-vaxx protesters.
‘Can I say at the outset that the ugly scenes that we saw yesterday are not only appalling, they’re unlawful. Victoria Police will take action against those who did the wrong thing yesterday,’ Mr Andrews said in his first public appearance since the protests.
‘I think there were some people there who you would say were from the building industry.
‘There were others who were not from the building industry. They’re not there to protests, they’re there for a fight, pretend to be protesting. They’re from many different backgrounds.
‘What offends me is not only is the conduct, but in my job, over many years, I have met hundreds and thousands of builders, hundreds and thousands of tradies who build this state, whether it be removing level crossings, building hospitals and schools, all the way through to building homes, they’re fine people, hardworking people, and what we saw yesterday is an insult, an insult, to the vast, vast majority of tradies or people in the building industry who are not about wrecking, they’re about building,’ he said.
Members of Victorian Police detain a man at the corner of Elizabeth St and Victoria St near the CFMEU Building on Wednesday
Police stand guard as a protester is arrested. Heavily armoured police were seen marching down Elizabeth Street with 10 mounted police heading the charge
Daniel Andrews has blasted violent anti-vaccination protesters in Melbourne who took the city by storm on Tuesday
The protesters have been communicating using encrypted messaging app Telegram (above are their messages). Police say they have no obvious leader, making discussions difficult
Mr Andrews defended his construction ban saying there were more than 350 Covid cases linked to the industry, more than in Victoria’s aged care sector.
He also said mandatory vaccination orders for the industry would not be removed.
Ahead of more expected protests on Wednesday, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Shane Patton said officers would employ ‘different’ tactics and have more boots on the ground – but refused to reveal operational details.
‘Victoria Police have planned, we have significant tactics in place, we will be agile in our response, we will be very swift in our response an conduct, as we’ve seen yesterday, and the previous day, will not be tolerated,’ he said.
Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia that officers are on high alert for protesters carrying weapons, with fears nail guns could be used against police.
It is understood the Australian Defence Force has also been alerted should police need back-up.
Thousands of angry anti-vaxx protesters have vowed to march on Melbourne‘s streets ‘every day’ this week ‘until demands are met’ as part of a violent crusade sparked by mandatory coronavirus vaccinations on job sites.
Their demands include the immediate end of lockdown, the mass distribution of unproven drug invermectin to treat Covid and the removal of a law requiring construction workers to be vaccinated by Friday.
The protesters have been communicating using encrypted messaging app Telegram. Police say they have no obvious leader, making discussions difficult.
Victoria’s police chief has warned next time ‘things will be different’ with riot cops ready to take on the mob ‘head on’ (pictured, riot police pictured at the Melbourne protest on Tuesday)
About 2,000 angry protesters took to the streets (pictured on Tuesday) to oppose mandatory Covid vaccinations on work sites – with unions insisting many weren’t tradies but ‘far-right opportunists’
Thousands of angry tradies have vowed to march on Melbourne’s streets ‘every day’ as part of their violent crusade against Covid vaccinations (pictured, a post promoting more days of unrest)
Riot cops are expected to be armed with rubber bullets, pepper balls and stinger grenades ready to take on the mob ‘head on’.
Mr Andrews’ condemnation of the protesters came after he copped criticism for ‘hiding’ from the cameras on Tuesday, only issuing a meekly-worded statement issued later on Tuesday evening.
Tensions have been brewing for months within the construction industry with a significant contingent of workers vehemently opposed to the jab requirement.
That resentment exploded this week with hi-vis-wearing anti-vaxx demonstrators hurling projectiles at the CFMEU headquarters on Monday, before taking over the entire city on Tuesday.
A rudderless mob of up to 2,000 stormed across the CBD for more than seven hours clashing with police, lighting flares, hurling rocks and in one case even assaulting a Channel 7 news reporter by throwing urine on him.
The out-of-control group even scaled the West Gate Bridge shutting down traffic and jumping on cars as terrified bystanders including children watched on in fear from inside their surrounded vehicles.
‘This was a very large and very, very angry group. Crowds like this, they’re for cowards,’ Chief Commissioner of Police Shane Patton said.
‘Cowards who seek to hide their identity… to do other things that if they were by themselves they wouldn’t have the courage to do.
‘I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be a citizen in your car …. how scary that would have been.’
An online poster created by rally organisers declares the ‘Victorian Workers Rally for Freedom’ will continue ‘every day’ from 10am outside the head office of the CFMEU until their ‘no vaccine mandate’ demand is met.
But Commissioner Patton has promised that police will be ready to unleash a range of new counter measures on Wednesday, setting the scene for a fiery showdown.
‘I’m not going to disclose what our tactics will be… but they will be different,’ he said.
‘This is utter criminal conduct they’ve been involved in. You cannot come in and break the law. We will hold you to account.’
The out-of-control group even scaled the West Gate Bridge (pictured on Tuesday) shutting down traffic and jumping on cars as terrified bystanders including children watched on in fear from inside their surrounded vehicles
A police officer receives treatment during a protest by construction workers and demonstrators against Covid-19 regulations in Melbourne (pictured on Tuesday)
A demonstrator is sent flying backwards off his bike as scenes turned ugly at the anti-vaxx protest (pictured on Tuesday)
Riot cops armed with rubber bullets, pepper balls and stinger grenades are pictured at the protest – with ‘new tactics’ to control the crowds set to be brought in on Wednesday
Although more than 500 officers were deployed on Tuesday with the assistance of police air wing helicopters, the police chief said it was ‘really challenging for us’ because of the ‘spontaneity and tactics they employed throughout the day’.
Three officers were injured in the chaos along with veteran journalist Paul Dowsley who had a can thrown at the back of his head, was doused with urine and grabbed around the throat.
There were just 62 protesters arrested, but police have vowed to scour CCTV and social media footage in order to bring more arrests in the coming days and weeks.
‘They seem to be intent on random violence,’ Commissioner Patton said.
‘It’s clear this was not a protest, this was at times an affray.
‘When you’ve got a couple of thousands of people traipsing around town … throwing bottles, throwing lit flares… it defies logic for anyone to respond to that … and control the (crowd).’
Premier Andrews backed up the state’s top cop in a brief statement posted to Twitter at 8:41pm, saying there is ‘no excuse for the terrible behaviour we have seen in our city over the last two days’.
But he failed to reference the damage or injuries suffered by police officers, instead imploring protesters to ‘think of their fellow Victorians’.
‘We know vaccinations are our only ticket out of this pandemic. There is no other way,’ he said.
‘For those who think violence is the answer, I ask that you think of your fellow Victorians – doing the right thing over many months, following the advice of our health experts.’
The embattled state leader pleaded with protesters to ‘spare a thought for our healthcare workers who are working such long hours looking after patients, many who are struggling to breathe.’
‘The more of us who get vaccinated, the fewer of us who will end up in hospital,’ he said. ‘It’s as simple as that.’
A large contingent of police line up on the West Gate Bridge (pictured on Tuesday afternoon) as the angry mob approaches
A rudderless mob of up to 2000 stormed across the CBD for more than seven hours clashing with police (pictured, protesters on Tuesday)
Demonstrators also lit flares, hurled rocks and in one case even assaulting a Channel 7 news reporter by throwing urine on him (pictured, protesters on Tuesday)
For many the softly-worded statement did not go far enough to condemn the mob, which the CFMEU claimed was fuelled by ‘neo-Nazis’ and ‘conspiracy theorists’ – not its own members.
Construction industry workers in Victoria have been furious over Covid compliance measures enforced on their industry.
Of the state’s 6,000 active Covid cases, 403 are directly linked to 186 construction sites – with health officials fearing the industry is not taking the deadly virus seriously.
Police with crowd control shields force back demonstrators during the clashes as the situation became increasingly violent on Tuesday (pictured)
A demonstrator in wrestled to the ground by officers (pictured in Melbourne on Tuesday), but just 62 arrests were made out of 2,000 who attended
Last week, in an attempt to stop the virus spreading on work sites, lunch rooms were shut down prompting scores of Melbourne tradies to block off busy roads with barbecues and outdoor furniture.
The impromptu protest was not well received by the broader public as the building industry has been largely able to continue operating during Victoria’s lockdowns while other sectors have been forced to close.
After about 1,000 riled-up workers stormed the CFMEU head office in Melbourne on Monday, breaking stay-at-home orders, Mr Andrews declared all job sites would be shut down for two weeks.
Furious tradies in the aftermath then organised Tuesday’s protest on encrypted apps such as Telegram – popular with right-wing extremists and conspiracy groups.
The platform played a key role in the US Capitol insurrection back in January where tens of thousands of Trump supporters entered Congress bringing Washington to a standstill.
At Tuesday’s demonstrations several were bizarrely seen waving Trump flags as they marched with the violent horde.
Union leaders have dubiously claimed the mob are mostly made up of ‘fake tradies’ and have little to do with the construction sector (pictured, protesters on Tuesday)
Construction industry workers in Victoria have been furious over Covid compliance measures enforced on their industry (pictured, crowds storming West Gate Bridge on Tuesday)
Union leaders have dubiously claimed the mob are mostly made up of ‘fake tradies’ and have little to do with the construction sector.
Federal member for Maribyrnong and former Australian Workers’ Union boss Bill Shorten told the Today show the rowdy mob is just a ‘Nazi rent-a-crowd’ who got themselves a $2 hi-viz hoody from the ‘Reject Shop’.
CFMEU boss John Setka labelled the majority of protesters ‘man-baby Nazis’ and ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said the unions have been ‘infiltrated’.
But senior figures within the CFMEU say although far-right agitators and anti-vaxxers have exploited the situation, about ’80 to 90 per cent’ of the demonstrators were construction workers, The Age reported.
The sources also added that the once militant left wing union has seen a cultural shift take place among some of its members, with a growing number identifying with fringe right-wing ideologies.
Source: Daily Mail