With the re-erection of tents and marquees at Treasury Gardens on Saturday 12th of November organised non-violent resistance has increased in the face of police raids on the Park. On Tuesday over 100 police arrested three Occupiers whilst removing the First Nations Embassy and Custom House. Later in the week police arrived to take down a marquee which had been named "The Shrine to Free Speech". Late on Friday 19th, police again used a heavy hand whilst working to enforce Melbourne City Councils "Compliance Notices" which effectively ban the protest from the park. However this time police were met with more organised peaceful resistance than they have seen since the day of the eviction from the City Square. Around 50 protestors linked arms around the collective sleeping tent(on a very rain stormy night) when police moved in. Standing strong, 8 people were arrested but released later in the evening. Whilst the police did manage to get the sleeping tent they were prevented from taking all the property they tried to remove. Read an account of the evening at the OM Digest who are providing excellent daily coverage of the protest.
Other videos
Catch and Release
Spirit of Ghandi
Police and council workers also confiscated gear that had been removed from the park and placed on the edge of the footpath in an attempt to comply with the council order. People who have had property confiscated can retrieve from a council depot in Kensington. However according to the Green Left Weekly protestors unloaded their gear from the back of the council truck and took it back!
The spirit of resistance of those present on Friday night could be seen in some of the Facebook messages uploaded during the night and soon afterwards:
NOTICE TO EVICT TREASURY GARDENS - UPDATE:
A notice to evict has been issued to the tarp structure at treasury and has been issued to Brandon (who is in a wheel chair). Occupiers have been given 1 hr to comply not entirly sure how much time is left on that). Occupiers have decided to defend the structure and are going to lock on with Brandon. There are some legal observers there and our police liaison is on his way. There are approximately 40-50 people already at Treasury Gardens, but they are requesting more people join them.
2 police vans at treasury gardens. People getting ready to peacefully resist
Occupy Melbourne needs people at Treasury Gardens now! Defending communal sleeping tarp cops coming back to remove!!! Get down now if you can and take torches and cameras so Melbourne can see what the police do at the bequest of Robert Doyle
Occupy Melbourne: #OMEL will be defending structures from police in less than an hour. get down there NOW!!!!>
Late last night at Treasury Gardens we defended Occupy Melbourne. They took a communal sleeping tent, but we TOOK BACK our kitchen gear as it was being confiscated. We. Won.
OMEL Day 35 - Police Eviction of Brandon's Tarp from Scott Day on Vimeo.
Pictures of Shrine of Free Assembly being removed on 17th of November.
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Comments
What's threatening about peaceful activists sleeping in a park?
One can only imagine that Occupy Melbourne has the bastards worried big time if they are spending such a large amount of time and energy in suppressing the movement. Is the voice of democracy such a threat, the freedom to speak our minds, are the rich concerned that they may have to live with less, is the government concerned that it is not simply "business as usual" down on spring street, what is it that they find so threatening from a bunch of peaceful activists sleeping in a park?
This is a disgrace, and a disgraceful way to manage a democracy. The City Council should be sacked, and the Police Minister as well.
Send cops, we mustn't disrupt the paradigm of profit and greed!
Various parks in Melbourne get occupied every year to make money. I can think of two high profile events: The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show that occupies the World Heritage listed Carlton Gardens for two weeks with semi-permanent structures and charges people for entry; and the Melbourne Grand Prix that occupies Albert Park every year with substantial areas closed from the public for several months, permanent structures erected and also charges money for entry during the event. Both of these events alienate use of public land for use by the public.
These events are profit driven and held on public land. Yet a few tents in a public park to discuss and raise political grievances? Send the riot police - we mustn't disrupt the paradigm of profit and greed.
"Damaging the grass." Good grief! An affront to our rights
On the ABC the police were quoted as saying the protestors were "damaging the grass." Good grief! And for that they bring in the riot police? This is seriously fucked up. I hope we win in the courts, because they are going way beyond what they have any right to to move on people who are basically doing nothing wrong. I wonder what will happen if we sleep on the footpath. Will it then be, "they are damaging the pavement..." They are running out of excuses and this is an affront to our rights and freedoms. Doyle was Leader of the State Liberal Party before he became Lord mayor...
Can't you people do anything original?
Can't you people do anything original? Geez! Even communists in the United States have to give you ideas. May Day originated in the United States, for crying out loud! No wonder Americans laugh at you as mindless bafoons.
CAN YOU?
CAN YOU?
Soon they'll be calling in the riot police to evict the homeless
At this rate they'll be calling in the riot police to evict the homeless.