Occupy Melbourne protestor applies for Intervention order against police

Sarah, the Occupy Melbourne protestor stripped publically of her "tent dress" in Flagstaff Gardens has applied for an intervention order against police. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald and on Ninemsn Sarah went to the court on December the 7th to make her application. She was refused entry to the court wearing her tent costume in another bizarre example of authorities determininging what is and what isn't clothes. Were they afraid she would occupy the court? An investigation by the Police Ethical Standards Department has also been launched after a complaint by Sarah.

The brilliance of Sarah's non-violence civil disobedience is that she has taken her right to wear a tent as clothes seriously. She would not change her clothes in the park when asked and she is now attempting to get redress for having her clothes removed. It would not be a surprise if Sarah has to enforce her rights through the courts in same way people did after the Tasty nigtclub raid in the 90's by Victoria Police. Sarah's actions have highlighted and exposed the levels the authorities are prepared to go to harass and intimidate Occupy Melbourne in an attempt to shut down their calls for fairer and more peaceful world.

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Comments

Good on Sarah but I would be very surprised if the court gives her intervention order against police. However I would expect more luck with a civil action brought against those agents who stripped her in a public, filmed place. It could be brought under a number of laws prohibiting such harrassment, assault, intimidation, sexualy inappropriate demands to undress, etc. There will be a number of legal firms happy to represent her...just to measure the effectiveness of human rights, civil rights and personal freedom laws in Australia.