More than a dozen pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested after unleashing chaos across Melbourne as part of protest action in cities around the world.
Protesters gathered at city landmarks today, including a group that was growing in size at Melbourne Central.
Leaders of the international group “A15 Action” called on supporters to blockade key sites, such as ports, train stations and parts of central business districts in major Australian cities today.
About 100 protesters also held unannounced demonstrations at Parliament House, Hoddle Street, Flinders Street and at a defence facility in Port Melbourne.
“We have rallied, we have petitioned, we have signed endless letters and the government has ignored our cries,” protest organiser Nathalie Farah said.
“Our objective is to make the government listen to the cries of the people.”
Nine newspapers reported law enforcement and activist sources said protest locations could include ports, train stations, major roads and business offices.
Police said they arrested 12 people after they were caught blocking Lorimer Street, near Boeing’s Melbourne office in Port Melbourne, about 8.30am.
Two more people were arrested for criminal damage at the intersection of Victoria Street and Nicholson Street in Carlton just before 8am.
They were both charged with criminal damage and interfering with a traffic control device.
They were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 22.
A woman also received two penalty notices for using an unsafe motor vehicle.
Zionist Federation of Australia chief executive Alon Cassuto said school groups from Jewish schools were told to avoid the city altogether.
He said the rallies do nothing to achieve peace.
Organisers of the protests argue global pressure on Western economies is required to bring an end to the Gaza conflict, which began on October 7 last year.
“Join participating cities in blocking the arteries of capitalism and jamming the wheels of production,” the A15 site reads.
“The proposal states that in each city, we will identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact, as did the port shutdowns in recent months in Oakland, California and Melbourne, Australia, as just a few examples.”
In a list of global participating cities, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, and Canberra were all listed, alongside other centres such as Geelong, Alice Springs, and Castlemaine.
Source: 9News Australia
