Police have tackled a number of men to the ground in North Melbourne after an anti-lockdown and vaccination protest in downtown Melbourne turned violent.
At least five men were arrested, with one man bleeding from the head and police deploying OC spray during the scuffle with protesters on Victoria Street.
Victoria Police scuffle with anti-vaccine protestors in Victoria Street in North Melbourne for breaching the Chief Health Officers lockdown directives.Credit:Chris Hopkins
All gatherings, including protests, are banned under Victoria’s lockdown restrictions as the state grapples with a fresh outbreak of coronavirus.
Multiple people were arrested earlier at the protest which began at Flagstaff Gardens in the Melbourne CBD. Within an hour at least 12 people were arrested.
A heavy police presence surrounded the gardens where about 50 protesters against vaccinations and Victoria’s seven-day lockdown gathered at noon.
One woman was detained by police outside Queen Victoria Market.
A bloodied anti-lockdown protester is detained by police after a scuffle on Victoria Street in North Melbourne.Credit:Chris Hopkins
She was heard yelling: “I will never stop fighting for my rights and my freedoms” and “COVID is a hoax, do you think your mask is protecting you?”
Another man who was holding an Australian red ensign flag was marched through the park by police before he was detained and his information was taken.
A woman is arrested at Queen Victoria Market on Saturday afternoon after an anti-vaccine protest. Credit:Chris Hopkins
Police were seen checking IDs and escorting protesters back to their cars on Saturday.
Health Minister Martin Foley said on Saturday that protesting was a breach of public health orders and anyone taking part faced being fined.
“Look, the virus does not respond to protests, the virus responds to public health measures,” Mr Foley said.
“There are five legal reasons to leave your home. Protesting against a virus is not going to work and if you do, you are breaching the public health orders and Victoria Police will hold you to account for that, and that involves significant fines.”
Ashleigh McMillan is a breaking news reporter at The Age. Got a story? Email me at a.mcmillan@theage.com.au
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2021-05-29 02:55:04Z
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