International Day of Protest - Occupy Melbourne - October 15th 2011 | Indymedia Australia. Date and Time: Sat, 15/10/2011 - 10:00am - 5:00pm Website: "NON-VIOLENTLY sending a message to the financial sector worldwide. Australia too is under the same bind of freedom because of monetary policy and corporate greed. Show your support for Occupy Wall Street!
Occupy Australia!!! " Dear all, I am writing as a call to action for the International Day of Protest due globally on October 15th 2011. As you may well have heard by now, the Occupy Wall St protests have gained attitude and momentum, and have spread virally across the United States, and now the world, calling for an end to corporate greed and injustice, and a real democracy for all human beings on this planet. As a part of this movement we are hoping to plan a peaceful, passive protest somewhere in Melbourne CBD, Federation Square has been mentioned as an ideal target. I ask you to please consider and visit the following link: Contact: Tina Athanasopoulos: t_athanasopoulos@hotmail.com thanks for your time. 1000 plan to camp out in the City Square to protest corporate greed. Demonstrators on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York last week.
Source: AFP PROTESTERS planning to camp indefinitely in Melbourne's City Square say they have been given the green light by authorities, despite not revealing their plans to stay put. Occupy Melbourne, a spin-off from US protests against "corporate greed and injustice", will be held on October 15. Co-organiser Alex Gard claimed police had asked for the intended routes of marching, but were not aware of the people's plans to continue occupying the square. "I said that the 'international day of protest is the 15th ... whether or not individuals choose to remain is a different story' ... as far as I can tell he didn't seem too fazed by it, but we will see.
There was no 'you will be arrested if ... ' talk or anything like that," Mr Gard wrote on the Occupy Melbourne Facebook page yesterday. Minutes from a meeting held by organisers also reveal the group does not want to pay for insurance and become liable for the event. Occupy Melbourne protest | Occupy Melbourne: Reader photos. Occupy Melbourne protesters refuse to leave City Square. Protesters in Melbourne's City Square yesterday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun The Melbourne City Council eviction notice handed to Occupy Melbourne protesters at City Square.
Source: Herald Sun OCCUPY Melbourne protesters have chained themselves together defying council orders to vacate City Square. City of Melbourne council officers arrived at the protest site on the corner of Swanston and Collins Sts early this morning and issued the order to leave by 9am. As the deadline arrived, defiant protesters formed a human chain, attaching themselves to each other with cable ties and chanting loudly. The formed a makeshift barricade using water barriers, upturned furniture and milk crates. In the first incident following the 9am deadline, police rushed the protest site after protesters pushed over a fence, but it appeared no arrests were made.
Police have now formed a ring around the City Square site. He denied the Queen’s visit was a factor. "It (the protest) is indefinite," he said. Police and protesters clash in Melbourne. POLICE and anti-capitalism protesters clashed in ugly scenes in Melbourne after a group was evicted from their CBD camp. The scuffles spilled into city streets after officers forcibly removed Occupy Melbourne demonstrators from the City Square on Friday morning, dragging many writhing and kicking and carrying others.
Police denied using excessive force to break up the protests, which blocked major city intersections and public transport for most of the day. Up to 20 people were arrested and could face charges such as trespass, resisting arrest and hindering police, but police said a number of protesters were removed and later released. More than 20 protesters had minor injuries, with one taken to hospital, while two officers were also injured, one of whom was taken to hospital to have his eye flushed. One protester claimed a 14-year-old boy was trampled by a horse and then sprayed with capsicum spray. "This is what needs to happen for people to stand up and wake up.
"We're not violent. Vow to catch leaflet publisher. Taxpayers billed for protesters' removal. TAXPAYERS have forked out nearly $150,000 for the removal of Occupy Melbourne protesters from City Square. Almost 100 protesters were arrested after clashing with around 400 police officers in ugly scenes in Melbourne after the group was evicted from their CBD camp yesterday. The police operation, including the wages of the officers involved, cost more than $120,000, News Ltd reported, and a City of Melbourne spokeswoman said more than $20,000 was spent on security, temporary fencing and the cleaning of the protest camp.
The scuffles spilled into city streets, blocking major city intersections and public transport for most of the day, at a cost to nearby businesses. "The disruption to businesses is likely to have cost many thousands of dollars," said Steven Wotjtkiw, chief economist at the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry. More than 20 protesters had minor injuries and one was taken to hospital. Eight police cars were damaged, police said. "The expense will come later. Occupy Melbourne protest called off after 16 days. Occupy Melbourne activists plan new camp in Treasury Gardens. Occupy Melbourne protesters march to their camp / Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: HWT Image Library Protesters move through city to gardens Warned of eviction, arrest if they set up camp Maybe people should do citizen arrests - spokesman OCCUPY Melbourne protesters have pledged to camp in Treasury Gardens despite the warnings they risk being arrested.
The group this afternoon marched along Swanston and Flinders streets before reaching Treasury Gardens. Occupy Melbourne's police liaison Jacob Drech said he had been told people would be charged with hindering police in lawful duty if they attempted to set up a tent in the gardens. "We are told that we are not allowed to establish camp in Treasury Gardens tonight,” Mr Drech said. "People need to make up their own mind. A protester dressed as a police officer marches through Melbourne / Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: HWT Image Library “They will be served an eviction notice.
Occupy Melbourne protesters vow they'll be back. OCCUPY Melbourne protesters will attempt to reclaim Treasury Gardens tomorrow despite being barred from the site days before. Activists were booted from camping at Bowen St at RMIT and the forecourt of the State Library over the weekend after being told their plans to take hold of Treasury Gardens would be met with police action. With nowhere to go, the organisers of the anti-capitalist demonstration were last night left to ponder their next move. Spokesman Carl Scrase said protesters would retake Treasury Gardens after their next assembly at 6pm tomorrow.
He said Occupy Melbourne's logistics team would form a plan of attack the next day, but the protest would be peaceful. "We'll all be working towards making it a peaceful occupation," Mr Scrase said. The protesters planned to take over almost two-thirds of Treasury Gardens on Saturday, with some receiving advice on being teargassed. About 20 agreed to pack their things and leave the State Library site when asked by police yesterday. Police and council officers raid Occupy Melbourne camp. Occupy Melbourne protesters gave drugs to kids, Salvation Army claims. Occupy Melbourne protesters have been accused of supplying homeless teens with drugs. Picture: Trevor Pinder Source: Herald Sun OCCUPY Melbourne protesters have supplied drugs to homeless children and wards of the state as young as 12, a charity group says.
The Salvation Army's Major Brendan Nottle said two 16-year-old girls were also invited to the home of activists in their late 20s and early 30s, while another 16-year-old was given marijuana to smoke. "We've had young people actually coming to our workers, as young as 12 and 13, and saying that they’ve been down at Occupy Melbourne," said on 3AW this morning. "They’ve been making statements to our workers around them being allowed to sniff glue when they’ve been staying there.
" Mr Nottle said the incidents had taken place during protests at City Square, Edinburgh Gardens and Treasury Gardens. He claimed both police and Melbourne City Council officers had spoken to protesters about the issue. - with Tom Minear. Council takes down Occupy Melbourne's tent city. Police and MCC officers intervene at Treasury Gardens to take down Occupy Melbourne's tent city. Picture: Trevor Pinder Source: Herald Sun COUNCIL officers, protected by police, have pulled down tents in Treasury Gardens after Occupy Melbourne protesters were issued with council notices to comply early today.
Occupy Melbourne spokesman Wil Wallace said about a dozen Melbourne City Council officers arrived about 7am (AEDT) to inspect the site. "They've gone and had a look at the tents, the bedding and other equipment we've got in Treasury Gardens and issued notices to comply," he said. "They told us we had until 8 o'clock this morning to comply and to remove those structures. "We held a meeting and decided to peacefully, non-violently resist. "But there was a very large police presence and it was made impossible for us to actually resist. " Mr Wallace believed some arrests were made, but there was no violence.
He said the group would continue to occupy the site. City will not tolerate campers - Doyle. MELBOURNE Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says there will be a zero-tolerance policy towards people camping in the city, following last week's removal of anti-capitalism protesters from the city square. Mr Doyle also said it would be a shame if the Occupy Melbourne protesters disrupted other events in Melbourne, and while people had a right to protest, the council would do what was needed to maintain civic order.
About 100 Occupy Melbourne protesters were removed by force from City Square in violent scenes on Friday. Now the protesters are considering disrupting the Queen's visit to Melbourne on Wednesday. Occupy Melbourne say they will hold a general assembly at State Library on Tuesday night to hear any proposals for action during the royal visit. Speaking to reporters today, Mr Doyle said it would be a "great pity" if the group disrupted other events.
"We'll just have to see whether their intentions are honourable or not. "By all means, protest. Six arrests at Occupy Melbourne protest. A FURTHER six people have been arrested in connection with the Occupy Melbourne protest in a city park. Protesters were furious at the operation, in which dozens of officers entered Melbourne's Treasury Gardens late on Friday evening to help council rangers remove tarpaulins. Police say the protesters are welcome to stay but council bylaws prevent them from pitching tents or erecting banners. It is the second time officers have come down to the site to help remove tents, which protesters have billed a campaign of intimidation to silence them. "This is a completely absurd show of force against peaceful protesters," a spokesman said in a statement. Occupy Melbourne had been moved to its current protest site two weeks ago after violent clashes resulted in the removal of their camp from Melbourne's City Square.
Three people had been arrested at the new site earlier in the week after they refused to move on and let police remove their tents. Occupy Melbourne protesters expected to be charged. TWO Occupy Melbourne protesters are expected to be charged after more belongings were confiscated by the City of Melbourne this afternoon. A 43-year-old Cheltenham man and a 31-year-old Broadmeadows man were arrested for obstructing council officers who moved in on protestors with police at Treasury Gardens about 1.30pm. Council officers issued 12 notices to comply for tents, tarpaulins and bedding used by the free democracy activists, who have continuously flouted Council demands to dismantle the structures. City of Melbourne spokeswoman Beck Angel said campers had been repeatedly told to remove tents and other belongings in recent days. “Our local laws apply 24 hours a day, they have been putting them up (tents) at night time, and we’ll be out enforcing those laws,” Ms Angel said.
Movement spokesman Carl Scrase claimed the ‘Occupy Melbourne’ banner was also taken. “It’s getting really bizarre,” Mr Scrase said. He said followed protestors after they began running away with tents. Traumatic twist to protest evictions. Occupy Melbourne protesters find new base on Spring St. OCCUPY Melbourne protesters have abandoned their post at Treasury Gardens to set up camp further down Spring St. At least 12 tents and two marquees were erected at Gordon Reserve Triangle, on the other side of Parliament, early this morning after the activists relocated yesterday afternoon about 3pm. Movement spokesman Carl Scrase said the protesters moved to avoid further confrontation with council officers and police. "We’re not interested in playing the constant harassment game, we just want somewhere where we can communicate with the community," Mr Scrase said.
He said campers chose to relocate after council officers issued more notices to comply yesterday but didn’t return to enforce them. But the occupiers have not ruled out returning to Treasury Gardens or using the neighbouring space for overflowing activities. Mr Scrase said he hoped Occupy Melbourne would face less resistance from Melbourne City Council at its new base. Police criticised after tent dress torn off Occupy protester. Police have been criticised after tearing a tent being worn as a dress by an Occupy Melbourne protester. Picture: Meaney Sean Source: Herald Sun THE Ethical Standards Department is investigating a physical assault complaint over an incident in which police stripped an Occupy Melbourne protester down to her underwear.
The incident happened in the Flagstaff Gardens this morning when police moved in to remove tents being worn by a couple of protesters. Disturbing video of the exchange has been posted on YouTube. See above: Strong language warning Victoria Police released a statement this evening revealing the Ethical Standards Department was investigating the incident after receiving a complaint. ''The Ethical Standards Department has subsequently received a physical assault complaint in relation to this incident and is investigating.
The footage appears to show a council worker being handed a knife by police to cut the tent from the woman - identified as Sarah, 20, who begins to struggle. Police force to remove Occupy protesters backed by Victorian Premier. Occupy Melbourne protest. Injuries sustained by protesters. Omar Hassan with a black eye Picture: Jon Hargest Source: Herald Sun PREMIER Ted Baillieu has backed Victoria Police in its use of force to break up the Occupy Melbourne demonstration at the City Square. “Obviously, they had to use a level of force, and they do that on their judgment, and I believe they have done it exceptionally well,” Mr Baillieu said today. Pictures: Occupy Melbourne protesters “This protest was allowed latitude, seven days in the City Square. “They were certainly given the message along the way that it was time to move along.
Mr Baillieu said he supported the right to protest. “There’s no doubt that everybody has a right to protest, and that’s a long-held bipartisan view in this state, and in this country and we will uphold that,” Mr Baillieu said. “But there is a limit, and these individuals, these groups, were given ample time and fair warning. Occupy Melbourne calls for worldwide tent protest. Missing ... one fowl swoop. Occupy Melbourne protesters disrupts shoppers.
Liberal heavyweight warns business will go if picketers not dealt with. 'Occupy Wall Street' prompts Australian echo. Occupy Melbourne and Sydney. Police Move On Occupy Melbourne Camp in Treasury Gardens. Occupy Melbourne moves to Treasury Gardens | Protesters. Occupied wedding. Occupy Wall Street movement spreads to Australia.