Footage from the violent eviction of Occupy Melbourne in City Square by police, and the demonstration itself, leading up to the general assembly 10 hours after the initial eviction, with words from speakers about the police brutality and where the movement should go from here.
https://www.engagemedia.org/Members/occupymelbourne/videos/occupy-melbou...
Protests in Australia occurred to mark ten years of Australia’s involvement in the brutal U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan which began on October 7th 2001. Despite overwhelming opposition to the war, the response of the Australian peace movement was small. The largest demonstration was in Sydney wherer the Sydney Stop The War Coalition and Stand Fast held a rally and march. See video. In Melbourne, a small protest occurred in the city square and a St Pauls Cathedral. Some direct action did occure when five Christian activists in Brisbane were arrested as part of group of 25 people protesting outside Enoggera army Base. Enoggera Army base is a major staging point for troops departing for the Afghan war.
by Nicola Paris on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 1:35am via Facebook. Firstly, I am so tired I shouldn’t be writing. Not my most eloquent self right now. But I thought it would help me to sleep, and share some information about today.
I intended to leave several times, actually have a day job, and was intending to come down for first couple of hours to support but then the escalation continued. It is hard to walk away when you are scared for peoples safety.
Occupy Melbourne have called for a full inquiry into unlawful police ... behaviour amid scenes of police violence on the streets of Melbourne today. The call comes after riot police disrupted a peaceful demonstration in Melbourne’s CBD.
“We call on Premier Ted Ballieu and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to back a full and independent investigation into the use of unlawful and excessive force by Victoria Police and the Melbourne City Council,” said Occupy Melbourne spokesperson Erin Buckley.
Statement - 21 October 2011 - by Occupy Workplaces via Facebook It might surprise some that despite a global economy in the most profound and sustained crisis since the Great Depression, that the top layer of bosses and executives in Australia are still raking it in. During this recent period of recovery in Australia, profits have soared by 27.5% to a record share of the national economy.
Inspired by occupations in Wall st and around the world, Occupy Melbourne was launched on Saturday October the 15th. The message of this global movement is simple; we are sick and tired of the disproportionate wealth, power and influence enjoyed by the top 1% of our society. We are students, workers, unemployed, and homeless, and we want our voices heard for once, and by occupying City Square (cnr Swanston/Collins) we hoped to build a movement of ordinary people to change our world for the better.
Statement 6PM 21/10/11... The legal support team at the Occupy Melbourne events condemn the excessive use of force by the Victorian Police today against peaceful protesters.
“Our observers have witnessed and been told of numerous incidents of excessive force and violence against the peaceful protesters,” said Erin Buckley, coordinator of the legal observer team. “We are very concerned at the level of violence, and concerned particularly about the welfare of young people who have experienced significant police brutality today.”
After the police brutally evicted Occupy Melbourne from the CBD - come to reclaim the city at 12PM in Federation Square. The movement for economic justice and real democracy has been met with violence in the Arab world, the U.S.A., Sydney and now in Melbourne. Come to show that this non-violent movement cannot be beaten with violence.
Its time for us to Unite - its time for them to listen.
Media Release – 3.30 pm Friday OCTOBER 21st 2011Koby James, 21, a young indigenous resident of Melbourne was the last person in the Occupy Melbourne movement to be violently evicted from the city square.
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He had the aboriginal flag draped around his shoulders as the police viciously and indiscriminately evicted the Occupy Melbourne movement. Koby James is currently in care with the Victorian Aboriginal health service.
After six days of peaceful occupation of the city square, and five days before the Queen is due to visit Melbourne, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle warned that if the protestors didn't leave today they would be forcibly removed. The eviction was carried out by 400 police including riot police and dogs. Horses and capsicum spray were also used to attack the crowd at various times. People stood their ground in the square before being removed one by one. Occupy Melbourne then staged a peaceful sit-in in Swanston St which was again brutally attacked. At least 65 people were arrested, most released without charge however it is believed that 5 people remain in custody. The crowd regathered at the State Library in the early evening and have vowed to gather once again - at 12PM in Federation Square, Saturday October 22nd. The struggle against social and economic inequality, against corporate greed and for a real democracy continues tomorrow on the streets of Melbourne and around the world.
Related: Occupy Melbourne Statement 3.30PM | 6PM Statement by Legal Support Team | Occupy Melbourne Press Release: Police Violence Warrants Full Inquiry | 3CR report | photos on flickr
Youtube footage of police violence:
video: eviction | video: protesters dragged away | video: man trampled by police horses | Occupy Melbourne - violent cop hits peaceful protester in the face | Police dogs and arrests in Swanston St | video: arrests in City Square | video: on the streets | Another violent arrest | Eviction and new begginning | The Eviction:Occupy Melbourne by Anthony Kelly |
Blog reports: Mike Stuchbery | Benjamin Solah | Green Left Weekly Live Blog | Simplicity Collective Blog | Nicola Paris | Today I was arrested at Occupy Melbourne | Simon Moyle
See full article to read an account of the day as it happened.
