Freedom protests: Melbourne fights back, Sydney blocked | Coverage

Protesters in locked down states of Australia have been met with a huge police force.

Get the story straight from the ground — #MelbourneProtests & #SydneyProtests.

Other locations will be added to another page.

MELBOURNE

Here’s some vision of the anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne, where there have been arrests.

As was witnessed at the last rally in Sydney, most of the group was largely peaceful, with a small number at the front taking charge and causing the eruption. Mixed emotions everywhere today.

2:40pm – Tactical unit disperses crowd, remaining protesters arrested.

Protesters have been dispersed after a few intense hours. We’ve seen a number of arrests. On Telegram, organisers are hailing the rally a success and flagging another next month.

2:20pm – Tactical force forms a wall, fires rubber bullets and more spray at protesters.

Protesters have been blocked by the riot squad, as a huge squad now engulfs the CBD.

JUST IN 🚨 Police in Victoria fire rubber bullets and sprays protesters during anti lockdown protest pic.twitter.com/HLF1cDpVu5
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 21, 2021

Regardless of what one thinks about the necessity of lockdowns, I think all decent Australians can agree that firing rubber bullets into a crowd exercising their democratic right to protest is a grotesque overreach of police power.
— Claire Lehmann (@clairlemon) August 21, 2021

2:15pm – A huge amount of tactical squad members have descended onto the city. Unbelievable shot.

Police want to end this quickly, calling in the big boys to go full steam towards the markets.

2:02pm – The crowd marches on.

Melbourne rally almost into its third hour. Still families out. Numbers may have weaned slightly, but a core group still pushing on towards Queen Victoria Market now.

This video shows protesters using water to treat pepper spray to the eyes.

1:43pm – Police attempt to disperse.

More pepper spray is used on protesters who continue past police line.

1:40pm – Crowds break police barrier.

A number of people engaged with the first line of police physically, leading to a pretty significant scuffle and copious amounts of pepper spray being unleashed.

Consensus appears to be the front of the crowd was provoked before being sprayed at.

Footage taken from TV helicopter coverage:

SYDNEY

1:15pm – Group does small march, disperses with increased police presence.

After many arrests, blocked entries into the city, imprisoned suburbs, the protest has ended.

The remaining crowd did attempt to begin marching through the city, but were cut off.

Sydney never had a chance to get off the ground with an overwhelming presence.

1:00pm – On-the-ground footage of the group that made it in.

12:15pm – Small groups made it into the city, arrests continue:

A number of people walking past have been arrested, as journalists and police overwhelm. Still, remaining groups have made it in the city and gather opposite the park.

11:30am – Footage of police roadblock designed to prevent protests.

Almost every entry into the Sydney CBD has been blocked off.

11:00am – Police are blocking entry to CBD:

We have received a number of reports that entry points into the Sydney CBD have been blocked by police, who announced yesterday that 1,500 police officers will be on-the-ground.