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MELBOURNE: Melbourne authorities arrested more than 70 people for disobeying stay-at-home orders to protest lockdown restrictions on Sunday (September 13), and some protesters clashed with riot police in a city market .
About 250 people attended the illegal protest, the second in two days in the city, promoted by coronavirus conspiracy groups on social media.
Protesters ignored official warnings and public health orders to gather at Queen Victoria’s central market, calling for an end to a weeks-long shutdown of Australia’s second-largest city.
They were greeted by a heavy police presence, with skirmishes as the riot squad marched through the fruit and vegetable aisles of the market.
About 250 people attended the illegal protest, the second in two days in the city, promoted by coronavirus conspiracy groups on social media. (AFP / William WEST)
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Police arrested 74 people and fined 176, saying in a statement that “many protesters were aggressive and threatened violence towards officers.”
A man believed to be a “prime agitator” faces charges of incitement, while another was charged with assaulting police, according to the statement.
Last weekend, “Freedom Day” events were held across Australia to protest what some called the government’s “overblown” response to the pandemic, which has killed more than 900,000 people across the world. world.
The latest demonstrations come ahead of the gradual easing of virus restrictions in Melbourne, with daily outdoor exercise increased to two hours and small “social bubbles” allowed for people living alone starting Monday.
Police arrested 74 people and fined 176, (AFP / William WEST)
Victoria’s Prime Minister Daniel Andrews, who previously called the protesters “selfish,” said Sunday that the state could not afford to reopen too quickly.
“Nobody enjoys the reality that we face, but none of us have the option to ignore the reality that we face,” he said.
“We can’t open up now and stay open. It wouldn’t be safe, it wouldn’t be smart.”
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The night curfew, restrictions on visitors to homes and the limit to travel more than 5 km will remain in effect in Melbourne until October 26.
Despite the second wave from Victoria, Australia has been relatively successful in containing the virus, allowing other regions to roll back restrictions.
The nation has recorded more than 26,600 cases and 810 deaths in a population of 25 million, the vast majority in and around Melbourne.
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