Occupy Melbourne update - Bowen's Lane occupied. Re-occupation begins!

On Saturday 29th October, just over 1 week after the brutal eviction from the City Square, thousands of people are in the process of re-occupying Melbourne. Note: this article quickly became out of date due to the authorities at RMIT issueing an eviction notice. The GA then voted to move to the State Library where only a small number of protestors stayed. occupation re-established at State Library. Another group of protestors went and set up camp at the Edinborough Gardens for the night in the City of Yarra. GA at 4PM today (Sunday) at State Library to decided where to from here.

Account of the day

Beginning at the State Library
Between 12 and 1PM, around two thousand people gathered out of the front of the State Library. An Aboriginal elder acknowledged the traditional ownership of the land. There were report backs from logistics, legal and police liaison groups too. We heard that the police had been given instruction by the City of Melbourne that no camping or structures were to be allowed in the Treasury Gardens or anywhere else on City of Melbourne land. Anyone who resisted police taking down these structures would be arrested for hindering police. The crowd also heard a short speech from a mother of three who told us her story of being part of the 99%, including being saddled with education debt and never being able to afford to buy a house of her own for her family. Interestingly, the Melbourne City Council had paid employees handing out notices to demonstrators explaining in writing that camping would not be permitted. This was obviously an attempt by the Council to ensure that the eviction from Treasury Gardens would have more legal standing than last Friday's actions.

March to Treasury Gardens
Under heavy police escort, the group marched off spreading down Swanston St towards Flinders St. As the crowd turned up Flinders St, a chant of "Say it loud, say it clear, Occupy Melbourne has no fear", however speaking for myself and others I think this was definitely a way of dealing with our nervous anticipation as we neared Treasury Gardens.

Treasury Gardens
At the Gardens we met no police resistance to us entering the park, however we were surrounded on all sides by a line of police, the dog squad, horses and several large divisional vans. A festive atmosphere of music and relaxing dominated for the first hour or so in the park under the watchful eye of the police. We were even treated to some great street theatre of some mock cops dancing to "Bad Boys" and other cheesy music whilst beating protestors in time to the music!

Where to now - the General Assembly
It was decided to bring the General Assembly forward from 4PM to 2.30PM. At this stage no attempt had been made to set up any permanent structures in the park and an uneasy stand off with police continued. At the General Assembly three locations were put to the crowd as possibilities. Firstly, try to establish camp at the Treasury Gardens, secondly move to the Edinburgh Gardens and lastly move to Bowens Lane behind RMIT on RMIT land. Three speakers spoke for each proposal. First speaker for Bowens Lane was Steve Jolly from the Socialist Party who spoke as both a CFMEU organiser and a Councillor of the City of Yarra. Steve warned that there was the potential for conflict in the Edinburgh Gardens with some of its well heeled neighbours and also stated that the centrality of Bowens Lane would allow more involvement by Construction workers in the Occupy Camp. He relayed that a few days ago, the Executive of the CFMEU has voted to support the Occupy Melbourne protest with logistical support and to send a leaflet to all 29,000 of its members explaining what the Occupy movement stands for. They also condemned the Victorian police actions and the Victorian Government for the violence of the eviction in which two CFMEU organisers had been assaulted. The other major argument made for Bowens Lane was that the police had not been given immediate instructions by the University to have protestors removed, which it was acknowledged may come at some stage but at this point did not exist.

Some people felt that we should take a stand at the Treasury Gardens on principle and due to its location, whilst others spoke in favour of Edinburgh Gardens on the basis that we were unlikely to attract police opposition and it was a welcoming park. However after some further discussion it was overwhelmingly supported that we march to Occupy Bowens Lane. So that's what happened!

Occupation of Bowens Lane
A palpable sense of relief ran through the crowd with the knowledge that we might be able to set up camp without a show of force from the police. Led by Bikezilla, some people literally danced into Bowen's Lane. The crowd stretched out and chanted enthusiastically through the city. Once into Bowen's land more chanting and general high spirits continued. A large police contingent followed us into the Lane but took a fairly low key approach. Interestingly the University immediately put security on the doors, only allowing people with RMIT cards into any of the buildings. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come from the University. At 4PM the next General Assembly was scheduled to begin as people were encouraged to start the process of re-establishing a camp. For now at least Occupy Melbourne continues - so come on down to Bowen's Lane!!

More photos and updates later today.

Brief text and extensive gallery of photos up to the occupation of Bowens Street at Melbourne Protests blog: http://melbourneprotests.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/occupy-melbourne-resum...