By Jack
Occupy Melbourne: Recording of innocent victims’ and eyewitness accounts from the middle of the crowd; sounds of the protest as ‘Occupy Melbourne’ is forced into retreat down Swanston St. Comments from the 99% who joined Occupy Melbourne on Friday 21 October to find themselves being attacked by armed police in riot gear and others on horseback.
By around 4.30 about 1,000 of them were being forced to slowly move North up Swanston St.
‘The monetary system isn’t working’ says Jonathan.
Sarah, a twenty-one year old woman, had been wounded in the eye while being assaulted by police. She tells her story.
Jerome has been scouting ahead and gets the word out to turn right at LaTrobe Street to avoid being ‘kettled’ in the road-works outside the State Library.
Observations by CFMEU shop steward, Steve Jolly.
Arthur Dent (formerly Albert Langer, 1970s student radical) predicts: “I reckon in about three months time they will have got there act together and it will be quite a powerful movement…. It always starts slowly. They would still be debating about agreeing with everything in the City Square except the Lord Mayor of Melbourne is a complete idiot and decided to disrupt the whole of Melbourne instead. … It’s very refreshing that people are on the move again. Something is starting. I haven’t been to any of the bullshit demoes but this looks more real. … It will take them a few months to get there act together… but it will end up being something serious about the fact that only 1% of the people own 60% of the wealth and the rest of us should be knocking them over and it’s the first sign that I have seen any interest in that.”
Jeremy, a homeless indigenous man, thanks 'Occupy Melbourne' and looks to the future.
Other sounds of ‘Occupy Melbourne’ as it is assaulted at the rear by riot police and horses and forced into retreat down Swanston St.
Protesters for free speech upbeat as a result of “complete idiot” Roger Doyle’s (Melbourne Lord Mayor,) and Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana’s vicious attack.
In the aftermath, around 1500 gathered at Federation Square and marched defiantly through the city again yesterday. Occupy Melbourne will meet at the State Library at 6pm on Tuesday 25 October to discuss their next moves. They will then recommence the occupation at Treasury Gardens from next Saturday.
Police initially denied that they used excessive force but since then have been backtracking. Yesterday they attempted to justify their actions in statements reported by the corporate media. This morning, after it was announced that legal proceedings may be launched against them, Fontana claimed to support “the right of all people to protest in a peaceful manner” (The Age). Robert Doyle justified his decision to unleash the -potentially unlawful - violence by calling victims a “self-indulgent rabble”.
Comments
Doyle/Bailue = dictators - time to take the power back
Robert Doyle = dictator
Ted Bailue = dictator
They are the problem this protest is about.
They have lost touch with the people they represent.
This to me is what this rally is about , its time to take the power back. Enough is enough.
Our governments need to be accountable to their people not their corperate partners and campaign donators.
You and me type people who dont have a say yet are told what to do.
Doyle you are the biggest tool in melbourne and your the mayor ? funny stuff. Change is needed now !
Where in Australian law is your right to protest?
Again can someone please illustrate clearly where in Australian law you have the right to protest? If the protest was so peaceful why was there police cars which were damaged?
In media there are illustrations where occupy melbourne activists stated they would move on when asked but when asked they didn't? Why is that?
What right do you have to disrupt my use of public transport, use of a public space?
Police committed serious violent crimes against innocent people
Are you writing from a desk in the Police-Media Liaison Unit? The right to protest is an inherent part of any democracy. Ask your lawyer to explain it to you. There has been an unsubstantiated claim made by police in this morning's Herald-Sun that protesters allegedly damaged Police property. There is ample historical evidence that such claims usually turn out to be false when tested in court. Furthermore, Police have tacitly admitted there is no evidence yet of this claim as they plan to examine CCTV footage - presumably from privately/publicly owned cameras in the area. There is overwhelming evidence already on the public record that serious violent crimes against innocent people may well have been committed by the police. If they were serious about protecting public safety, they would be investigating these cases, rather than attempting to intimidate people by putting out self-serving propaganda.
You should provide evidence of your claim that people said that they would move on and they didn't. I haven't seen any. What I saw was people openly exercising civil disobedience by gathering peacefully in a public place. Even if you can provide evidence, it would not excuse the fact that children and others were bashed with batons; that people were trampled on by horses, punched in the face and the back of the head and tear-gassed by the Victoria Police.
Occupy Melbourne was in the City Square for 7 days without disrupting 'your' public transport (in fact it belongs to everybody, not just you). It was disrupted when the Lord Mayor of Melbourne called in the Victoria Police who then proceeded to start their own riot. Instead of doing that, he could have crossed the road from his office and simply talked to his constituents in the square.
Less rights for the public who book the square for events?
Occupy Melbourne was in the City Square for 7 days without disrupting 'your' public transport,
however they did disrupt public events that were going to happen in the city square.
Or does the public who book the square for events have less right then those who setup camp and piss in buckets.
Refused access to public toilets, hired portaloos not allowed
Occupy organisers were prepared to hire portable toilets for the protest but were told they would be confiscated by police. protesters were also refused access to public toilets. When you've gotta go, you've gotta go. Take your petty personal hygiene insults and shove them up the place from which you urinate. These kind of comments show just how ignorant you are to what really matters.
Occupy Melbourne should file the proper lawsuits
Occupy Melbourne should file the proper lawsuits because they have the right of all people to protest in a peaceful manner. Based on the news reports and pictures I seen. The police displayed excessive force in the situation.