One of the organisers behind Melbourne’s freedom rally protests has asked supporters to pay for his legal defence after he was arrested and charged with inciting others to breach public health directions.
At one point, protesters broke through police lines near Richmond, hurling projectiles and abuse at officers. They screamed and were soaked in capsicum spray as they went, and one female police officer was trampled in the chaos. “My legal battle now begins to continue the fight for Freedom in Victoria, against the Andrews Regime.”A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed a 25-year-old Bayswater man was charged with incitement because he allegedly encouraged people to breach the Chief Health Officer’s directions at Richmond on September 18.
On Monday, September 20, there were violent scenes when a group of construction workers, and others angry about a state government closure of worksites and vaccination mandate clashed, with union officials.The following day a large, rolling protest swept across the city, and protesters brought traffic on the West Gate Bridge to a standstill.