Climate Protestors Block Melbourne CBD for 3rd Day in a Row

Extinction Rebellion Protestors Attempt to Block Melbourne Thoroughfare

Extinction Rebellion, an international environmental movement, made headlines today as its demonstrators attempted to block a major thoroughfare in Melbourne’s CBD. The group’s protestors gathered at the Montague Street off-ramp, unveiling large banners with slogans like “Climate code red for humanity” and “we need disruption to end the destruction.”

Police Swiftly Clear the Way

Local police responded quickly to the protest, arriving on the scene within the hour to clear the roadway. Nine protestors who failed to comply with police orders were removed and received penalty notices for obstructing a roadway. The incident lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Sustained Protests in Melbourne

This marks the third consecutive day of protests by Extinction Rebellion in Melbourne’s CBD. On Thursday, the movement’s members took to the streets during both morning and evening peak hours. They marched through major roadways, arriving at Flagstaff Gardens in the morning and from the State Library to Melbourne’s Central Station in the evening.

The protests are a precursor to a larger demonstration planned for Saturday, where over 200 protestors are expected to participate.

Upcoming “Slow March For Climate”

According to Extinction Rebellion Australia’s website, a “Slow March For Climate” is scheduled to take place between 1-4 p.m. Participants will walk from Treasury Gardens to Flinders Street Station, concluding with a show of “Mass Civil Disobedience for Climate.” Organizers hope that 300 people will participate in sitting down in the middle of the road as a form of protest.

Protests Coincide with COP 28 Conference

The ongoing protests in Melbourne align with the COP 28 conference currently being held in Dubai. Extinction Rebellion members believe that the conference is ineffective in curbing carbon emissions and accelerating the global transition to renewable energy.

Previous Protests in Adelaide

This series of protests in Melbourne follows the group’s major disruptions of traffic in Adelaide’s CBD three months ago. During that protest, a protestor was arrested for abseiling off a bridge in the city center and later pleaded guilty to obstruction of a public space. The demonstration occurred outside a gas and oil conference organized by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA).

Brad Homewood, spokesperson for the Victorian Branch of Extinction Rebellion, expressed apologies to those affected by the protests but emphasized their necessity. He stated, “Writing letters, signing petitions… they can ignore that. They can’t ignore this.”