Occupy Melbourne

Occupy Melbourne eviction - A first hand account

Submitted by Kenji Wardenclyffe on Fri, 28/10/2011 - 6:51pm

As a freelance journalist, it is my job to cover protest and put myself into situations where others may feel unsafe. It is my job to cover events as they unfold and report on them. Here is a detailed first hand account of my experiences of Occupy Melbourne's eviction. 

Here I am not stating support for or against Occupy Melbourne. This is simply a detailed statement of what I witnessed.

Gallery of the Eviction

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
police
Melbourne
arrests
violence
Occupy Melbourne
#OccupyAustralia
Brutality
Occupy Wallstreet

Stopping the Queen in her tracks? Beware the spectre of spokespeople

Submitted by Jack on Tue, 25/10/2011 - 10:42am

The media and other public communication work by Occupy Melbourne has been great the last few days. Some comment is required though. There have been reports in the corporate media that 'spokespeople' and lawyers have made various comments on behalf of Occupy Melbourne. For example, last night SBS suggested that Occupy Melbourne will disrupt the Queen's visit – possibly by blocking trams. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea and people have every right to do it if they want to.

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
Occupy Melbourne

Day 8: Occupy Melbourne – The day after the eviction

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 9:28pm

After the brutal eviction from the City Square, 1000-1500 protestors returned defiantly to the CBD for a rally that was called with 12 hours notice. After meeting Federation Square, the group marched past the city square now fenced and occupied by police and attack dogs. Eventually a General Assembly was held outside Trades Hall where a decision was made to march to the Treasury gardens which will be site of renewed mass occupation next Saturday the 29th. A General Assembly to organise the Re-occupation of Melbourne occured on Tuesday 25th at 6PM outside the State Library. Read the minutes at the Occupy Melbourne Website.
Read full article for account of the 22nd October protest and more photos
Photos:Occupy Melbourne Photos -- http://tahliaisabelpalmer.blogspot.com - photos -- Photos on Flikr Benjamin Solah: From repression to re-occupation
Blogs

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
Occupy Melbourne

Today I was arrested at Occupy Melbourne

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 12:15pm

Today I was arrested for participating in a peaceful protest. While doing nothing more confrontational than marching with a group of people up Lonsdale Street, I began to be jostled and pushed by four policeman, each of whom was more than a head higher than myself. They shoved and pressed me, attempting to make me go forward faster than the people standing immediately in front of me. I was worried I would lose my feet as the police had squashed us in so that there was no space to move.

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
police
protest
Occupy Melbourne

The eviction of one space. The start of another.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 8:34am

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.

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
Occupy Melbourne

Statement by Occupy Workplaces

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 22/10/2011 - 6:56am

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.

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
Occupy Melbourne
Occupy Australia
Occupy Workplaces

Occupy Melbourne legal support team statement 21st October 2011

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 10:08pm

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.”

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
Occupy Melbourne

March on BHP Billiton - 20 October 2011 - on Day 6 of Occupy Melbourne

Submitted by peter on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 8:21am

On Day 6 of Occupy Melbourne, a number of protesters joined an action by Friends of the Earth ACE collective at the Melbourne Office of BHP Billiton, timed to coincide with the company's London AGM.

Having marched up Swanston Street to chants of ‘BHP BP Shell/ You can all/Go to hell’ and ‘System Change not Climate Change’, and escorted by about ten uniformed police - with at least one not-very-undercover plain clothes officer - protesters arrived at the headquarters to find it protected by even more.

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
uranium
Friends of the Earth
Olympic Dam
ACE
BHP Billiton
Occupy Melbourne

Australia: Occupy Melbourne protesters discuss social inequality

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 18/10/2011 - 6:42pm

Below is a video produced by the Socialist Equality Party which includes interviews of participants on October 15th, the first day of Occupy Melbourne. The mainstream press keep saying "what is this movement about". If you actually speak to participants, the movements message is very clear.

Geography: 
Melbourne
Keywords: 
Occupy Melbourne