OWS comes to town

Hey officer Friendly, where's ya damned badge?

A standard tactic, used in many Melbourne protests. Some officers choose to remove their name tags. If they are photographed or taped bashing in some unarmed protestor's head, the Vic Police can later say that they cannot identify the officer and thus take punitive action. Often they say it is ripped off during the protest. Does this look like the officer is in the middle of a wild free-for-all?

The OWS solidarity protest in Melbourne has been lingering for just shy of a week (since last Saturday to be precise). Today Lord Mayor Robert Doyle (Liberal Party) and Premier Ted Baillieu (Liberal Party) sent the police in to bust up the protest. As per usual, mounted police have also been used to shove protestors out of the way. Why else would you have a police officer on horseback in the middle of a group of protestors? Police have long used the bulk and size of the horse to shove civilians around.

So, OWS has come to town. Our two arch-conservatives - the Lord Mayor and our state Premier have laid down the law. The police have been sent in to bust heads. If the S11 (not to be confused with the 1 year later 9/11 tragedy) protests, or the Richmond High School protests even earlier than that are anything to go by, we will be seeing a lot of bloodied and battered kids and old people today.

Just not on the news.

To people who don't like to be 'inconvenienced' by protest - grow up. Justice and democracy is worth a lot more than your convenience. After all, that's why the cops are out there cracking skulls - so you can go shopping in peace. Lucky you. 


(Melbourne Greens MP Adam Bandt has issued a statement here)
Alan Kohler on the OWS protests broadly here
Current ABC coverage here

More Links;
John Faine (ABC radio) gives his views here
Youtube footage of protestors being dragged away here
Jeff Sparrow's views here

Some Twitter comments I've seen;
"I was punched in the stomach by a riot cop and dragged out of City Square with others. We're occupying the intersection now"
 "Strangled by the cops and ejected now they're riding into us."
"Protesters on floor screaming, "get off me" "help me". Riot scenes in full now. Bloody protesters spotted"
"When you send in riot police against unarmed citizens, it doesn't matter what their agenda is. I know which side I'm on."
"Good point on radio by East Melb Fertility Dr abt double standard on eviction of #occupymelb people but tolerence of picketers @ clinic"
"all the world is watching. Just what Australia needs: we're racist, polluting and undemocratic."
" Melbourne supports protest - as long as it's confined to the internet, and no-one's listening"