Yesterday’s construction worker protest came to a violent end courtesy of Victoria Police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd of unarmed tradies.
This isn’t footage taken from Hong Kong or France or Ukraine – this is Melbourne, Australia.
Watch this video and tell me you still recognise this country, because I don’t.
Police opening fire (with rubber bullets & tear gas) on protestors, with pedestrians & traffic nearby. pic.twitter.com/M4UkcH2jsQ
— The Right Side of Life (@RSOLpod) September 20, 2021
New footage of Police dispersing the anti-vax CFMEU crowd. Sound on. pic.twitter.com/qs5YutX1E7
— Oliver Gordon (@olgordon) September 20, 2021
Pictures have circulated today of the damage the rubber bullets did to both humans and vehicles.
However, this did not deter the tradies from returning today, and in greater numbers.
Victoria Police were ready for them this time, with a phalanx deployed across the breadth of Elizabeth Street, and the CFMEU office well barricaded.
Riot police have arrived. pic.twitter.com/DH57yzQT9j
— Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) September 21, 2021
A standoff ensued for about an hour and a half, with the battle line of tradies deployed across the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Victoria Parade, and the media stuck in the no-man’s land.
The standoff begins. pic.twitter.com/3fLtUxhu3H
— Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) September 21, 2021
LANGUAGE WARNING: Around 150 protesters have gathered at the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Pde @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/0F56AbSlcv
— Neary Ty (@NearyTy_9) September 21, 2021
They sang the National Anthem.
The crew singing the national anthem.
Love the solidarity. Has a beast been awoken? pic.twitter.com/DqEqBEGNdK
— BabaBoon (@BabaBoon17) September 21, 2021
And they were also a tad uncouth.
#FuckOffDanAndrews #IStandWithTradies pic.twitter.com/jSnF9w5VA9
— Joshua Inmate #0001974 (@endtyrrany2021) September 21, 2021
Police gave the crowd a move on notice.
They’re being warned. pic.twitter.com/qzi4XE5P0l
— Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) September 21, 2021
So they moved on to Parliament House.
Melbourne Pro Choice WAX Construction Rally These Crowds are absolutely Insane pic.twitter.com/Rn5kv1Nlpi
— (@risemelbourne) September 21, 2021
Police were waiting for them there, too.
So they marched down Bourke Street and made their way back to the intersection of Elizabeth and Victoria. There they remain, although it looks as though the police are preparing the teargas again.
It looks as though police are preparing the teargas again.#IStandWithTradies pic.twitter.com/iXZguublfR
— XYZ (@itsyourxyz) September 21, 2021
A key chant from the crowd has been “every day”. Given that yesterday’s police repression was unable to prevent them from coming back, and given protester numbers have doubled, the situation looks as though it will continue to escalate, compounding the sense of crisis in Victoria.