As riot police prepare for violence, thousands of anti-vaccination demonstrators have invaded 13 Australian cities as part of “freedom rallies” to protest Covid-19 mandates.
As part of the global “freedom” movement, protests in support of anti-coronavirus vaccine mandates were held Saturday in Melbourne (Sydney), Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Before midday, the Melbourne crowd began gathering outside Victoria’s Parliament before moving on to Flagstaff Gardens.
These demonstrators are a loose group of people who support COVID-19 mandates, vaccines, and state-sponsored pandemic laws. They were unable to reach the upper house.
Many people dressed up and carried handwritten signs that read “fight tyranny” (photo taken in Sydney).
Melbourne street protester marches in freedom rally t-shirt wearing “My Body, My Choice” tee.
They were watched by police and shouted “kill the bill” and “sack Dan Andrews”, while holding placards with anti-government slogans and anti-vaccine mandate slogans.
Since then, the crowd has grown to many thousand in the gardens where John Farnham’s You’re the Voice was played by a band.
The counter protest at the Eight Hour Day Monument nearby attracted an even smaller group, but organizers of the group have promised not to provoke a confrontation.
On Saturday thousands marched in protest across the country demanding that vaccinations be stopped
As rallies took place in Melbourne, a protester held a mock-banner for Daniel Andrews. He was wearing a prison jumpsuit.
“Freedom rallies” have begun in NSW and Victoria, with additional demonstrations expected in 11 more cities (photo: Melbourne)
Protesters raise fists to show solidarity in the wake of Saturday’s ‘freedom rally’ in Melbourne
In criticism of Daniel Andrews, one protestor brought along a balloon that read “punching bag Dan”
Anti-fascists warned that they would gatecrash the rally, believing the protests were being hijacked and controlled by far-right groups.
‘All you fascists – about to lose’, ‘you’re anti-vax, you’re anti-health – you can go f**k yourself’, are among the phrases being chanted by the protesters.
Protesters are also waving banners with several anti-fascist messages including ‘Melbourne is an anti-fascist town’, ‘neo-Nazis off our streets’ and ‘stand against the far right’.
They also promised to disrupt freedom rallies they believe have been taken over by far-right organizations.
Peaceful protestors are carrying a banner titled “Pro-vax and Anti-Fascist” to demonstrate their opposition to the ‘freedom’ demonstrations
On Saturday, a protestor dressed up in the role of Moses to mark the Worldwide Rally for Freedom.
At the “freedom” rally, you will often see the Eureka Flag (photo: demonstrators in Sydney).
To avoid any clashes with other demonstrators, the police escorted them by officers.
Protestors against vaccination waved placards calling for vaccine bans and comparing them with’segregation.
Banners display messages such as “Hands Off Our Kids”, “End Segregation Now” and “Let Hearts Heal”.
Catherine Cumming, MP, attends Saturday’s Freedom Rally in Melbourne.
Protesters are planning to march in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, and other regions (pictured: Sydney).
Protesters in Australia have protested against vaccinations, with thousands of people staging demonstrations (pictured: Sydney).
To protest the imposition of vaccines, demonstrators stormed Victoria Parliament’s steps.
Another popular focus of demonstrators was Premier Daniel Andrews. There were several mockup placards that featured the premier.
Several banners took aim at Mr Andrews and included messages, ‘Dan Andrews Human Rights Abuser’, ‘Everything Dan Touches Turns To Sh**’, and ‘Jail Andrews’.
A demonstrator made a mockery out of the mandate for a face mask by sporting a face cover with a cut-out in the middle.
Newtown, Sydney – A demonstration leader holding a sign saying: “Pro science, anti violence”
Newtown, Sydney was the scene of anti-fascist protesters. The stall read: “Pro vax. Pro union. Anti-fascist.”
Protesters in Melbourne shout out their frustrations during Saturday’s demonstration
Political support was also provided by Independent MP Catherine Cumming.
Protesters marched through Sydney’s CBD to raise their grievances.
Before one declared that they had “taken Sydney back”, a group of demonstrators sang the national anthem.
York St. was filled with bagpipes. A man in white shouted, ‘destroy new world order!’ while others sang, ‘walk alongside us!’
Melbourne has seen the largest protests with thousands turning out.
Melbourne was overrun Saturday by protestors of all stripes – some protested vaccination mandates, while others protested against them
Avi Yemini is an incredibly popular YouTuber that has been regularly covering protests in Melbourne, and offering a listening ear for anti-vaccine protestors
Avi Yemini (YouTube) speaks with the police in Melbourne during Saturday’s anti-vaccination demonstration
One Sydney protestor carried a sign that said “kill the bill”, while others held Australian flags.
After attending a Melbourne protest, Craig Kelly, leader of the United Australia Party and federal MP is speaking to Martin Place.
Clive Palmer (party founder and ex-senator) was set to give a speech at the Brisbane sister rally.
After Brittany Lauga, a Queensland politician, received an email containing ‘threats to terrorism and extremism’ for her and others in state parliament, she contacted police.
On Twitter, she stated that “I am aware local doctors have received death threats”
“I condemn the threats to violence, terror and extremism. This isn’t peaceful protest.
As they march through Sydney’s CBD, a protester flips off the photographer
In Sydney, thousands marched along streets of the CBD in protest to match the magnitude of the Melbourne march.
Andy Meddick, a Victorian crossbench politician and key Victorian crossbench member of parliament revealed that his daughter Kielan had been allegedly assaulted on Fitzroy Street on Thursday night. Kielan sustained a head injury when he was confronted by an unidentified man who spray painted an anti-vax sign.
This incident was condemned by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Protesters took to the steps of the Victorian Parliament this week, protesting against state pandemic laws.
On Monday night, a crowd staged mock executions of the premier with wooden gallows. Another demonstrator was at an earlier demonstration and had three nooses as a reference to the crossbenchers that supported the bill.
According to reports, some people associated with the neo Nazi movement joined protests. This prompted a wide range of left-wing organizations and progressive activists to call for counter-protest rallies.
As the march progressed in Melbourne, another protester held a mockup banner that compared Daniel Andrews with a rat
At the Melbourne rally, a protester wore a metal mining hit decorated with a flag and held up a banner.
A marching band made up the thousands who protested Sydney
As protesters overran Melbourne, police were on the scene to monitor the situation.
Nahui Jimenez, the organizer, stated that the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism rallies held in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane were intended to bring attention to the growth of conspiratorial and anti-human and fascistic political parties’.
She stated that “hostility towards vaccines has been a gateway for the far-right worldwide.”
“We won’t allow fascist organizations to spread their bigotry, occupy our streets and not resist.”
Although their Melbourne protest is scheduled to be near the other one, Ms Jimenez stated that the group won’t seek confrontation in the effort to ‘take over our city.’
Melbourne, Australia – A protester waves a sign saying: Freedom to choose without discrimination
As protesters marched through Melbourne, a demonstrator shouts slogans from the megaphone
Protestors wave flags during a march through Sydney’s CBD, to oppose the mandate for vaccines
Victoria Police advised residents that there would be disruption to travel in the CBD during the day. They advised people to use public transportation and to allow more time.
Telegram encrypted messaging and social media platforms were used by anti-vaccine activists to distribute flyers calling on Australians for the ‘Worldwide Rally For Freedom on Saturday, 12pm.
Thirteen cities, including Sydney-Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth were the locations of protests.
Demonstrators outlined a number of demands including the end to vaccine mandates and lockdown measures.
Protestors peacefully disrupted the “freedom” rally, accusing far-right leaders of taking over demonstrations in their favor
Protesters march through Melbourne in thousands to oppose vaccine regulations and the quarantine rule.
When they are ready to confront the demonstrators in Melbourne, officers form a line on Spring Street.
Online protests took place using hashtags #FreeAustralians and #wewillallbethere.
Protesters were angry and thousands marched to the rallies. The stormed Melbourne CBD on Saturday to demonstrate against mandatory vaccinations and new laws set to be introduced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Provocative banners, flags, and anti-government protestors marched through the city last Saturday shouting “kill the bill”
Children and families were present, as well as young people.
Andrews, as seen on one sign, was wearing a Nazi-style cap and uniform while another depicted him as a gremlin. Others simply showed his face and words like ‘liar’ and’scum.
Protesters for ‘freedom’ against Covid vaccination mandates plan their next day of protests in Australia this Saturday. Pictured: In September, anti-vaccine protesters in Melbourne
Flyers circulated on Telegram and social media urging Australians to join a “Worldwide Rally for Freedom”
Thousands of ‘pro-choice’ and anti-vax protesters marched in Melbourne on Saturday against mandatory vaccination and a proposed expansion of the premier’s powers
Sydney organizers promise to host Craig Kelly, controversial United Australia Party antivax MP
Adelaide protest flyer listed a variety of demands. These included ending vaccine mandates and medical discrimination.
As they made their way to the Victorian State Parliament, protesters shouted’sack Dan Andrews!
The crowd faced a line from Victorian mounted police at Parliament House, Spring Street.
The demonstrators stated that they weren’t anti-vax but opposed the Victorians being forced into getting vaccinated.
Others also supported popular conspiracies.
Others carried clear anti-vax messages. Some had anarchy insignia and attacked major media.
Pro-choice protestors flooded Melbourne with banners protesting the Andrews government, and one even donned a mask from a horror film to make it seem like he was in an actual gallows.
Craig Kelly, the rogue politician who delivered a stirring speech estimated that there was a huge attendance in their thousands.
A man wore an Akubra with the flag and a cape. He proudly displayed a ‘Infowars’ T-shirt, referring to American discredited extremist Alex Jones.
The law the ‘kill the bill’ signs refers to would give the premier the power to make pandemic ‘declarations’ which could be extended by three-months at a time – for as long as he deemed necessary.
Many held signs, some of which read ‘coercion is not consent’ and ‘Dan is the virus’.
Another message was that a moral society must leave its children a better world.