Thread by @BethanyCherisse

HAPPENING NOW IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE, THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW.

After 8 hours of peaceful protesting for the right to choice, the people had enough. @DanielAndrewsMP called in his goon squad & the police have turned weapons & tear gas on civilian workers.

For context: the jab has been mandated for the construction and trade industries, or these men are all faced with losing their jobs. The union which is supposed to represent them, CFMEU, has not defended their right to freedom of choice and sold them out.

Today hundreds of workers turned up to protest outside the CFMEU headquarters and to demand that the union, who they pay to represent them, come out and support them. The union boss, John Setka, claimed he would speak to them but refused to acknowledge their position.

The men have been peacefully standing outside chanting in protest for over 8 hours. All they wanted was that he lead a march to Parliament House, but he refused. At one point, Setka made a promise to them that he would come out in an hour. An hour came and went, but he did not.

Instead of coming out to lead the people asking for his backing, Setka proceeded to get on the 3AW radio and call them 'violent extremists', and have the PORT squad called in to disperse the crowd.

After Setka failed to appear, tempers were lost and a small group from the crowd did engage in some rioting. While violence cannot be condoned, their frustration can be understood. Others in the crowd pulled them back and attempted to calm the group down.

At this point, the PORT Squad and police units moved in and began deploying tear gas and rubber bullets indiscriminately into the people. Weapons have been drawn against the people. The working class is revolting, and law enforcement is turning on the working class.

This is what happens when you push people too far. This is what happens when you take away people's freedom of choice, and threaten to take away their right to earn a living. This has been a long time coming. This is only going to escalate.

To the union leaders: you are nothing but a bunch of cowards. I don't agree with pelting bottles and destroying the office front, but when you fail to uphold your responsibilities and to represent the people, to deliver on your promises to them, you get what you deserve.

To the police: history does not look kindly on those who enforce tyranny, who protect those in power over the people, and who attack the working class.

When the working class rises up, and they are, you are the first people they will come for.

I suggest you choose your side.

The moment that law enforcement turns against, and uses weapons against, their own people, in any society, is the moment from which there is no turning back. Something changes.

Australia has fallen.

A revolution is coming.

There is now a stand off between the police and the workers, although some of the crowd has dispersed. The police have put their weapons down. More support has been gained by vehicles driving through. The workers have contended that they will be back 'every day'.

This is what happens when you divide a society.

This has been precipitated by months of oppression and tyranny.

Loss of employment. Destruction of mental health. Lockdown after lockdown. Now the straw that broke the camel's back: bodily autonomy.

This is the breaking point.

Update: it has now spilled out into a side street. It has turned into a face-off between two sides of the union. A group of PORT officers have placed themselves between the two groups and are once again shooting rubber bullets and beanbag rounds. Things are turning ugly.

The projectiles are being fired into oncoming traffic. Cars and regular civilians/residents are getting caught in the crossfire.

This is the Melbourne that Dan Andrews has created. Once the world's most liveable city. Now the centre of a warzone.

At this point there is no attempt to kettle the workers still on the scene. Tensions have eased somewhat. It seems that the police are simply attempting to hold the perimeter around the union office.

The workers continue to claim that they will be back tomorrow, and EVERY day.

It is certainly interesting to see how much less 'tough' many of these police officers are when facing up to grown men with tempers on edge, despite being armed, than when they are facing women and children, where they will happily mow down little old ladies in cold blood.

Further update: a group of PORT officers just began chasing down civilians, firing rubber bullets indiscriminately. Multiple shots have been fired at one man. Again, there is oncoming traffic and pedestrians all around.

Teargas has been fully deployed. The streets are hazy. A man is shirtless in the middle of the road, sitting with his arms upheld. His back is to the PORT Squad. After firing multiple rounds at him, they have just moved in en masse.

The workers continue to yell, "EVERY DAY".

Police have cleared out the intersection and are marching down Victoria Street. Workers have run from the scene, rubber bullets hitting the sidewalk behind them. A child just missed being hit by a projectile. It is clear now more than ever that it is the people vs those in power.

A group of workers seemingly unwilling to disperse is now in a face-off with the police line. Flares have been let off on the street. Some more pellets have been shot. It sounds as though objects are being thrown.

What has Melbourne become?

These are the sounds of desperation.

The police are holding their line, but other than that it appears the events for today are over.

I'm now going to close off this thread.

I'll leave it at this:

Australia is a nation in distress.

And this is far from over.

This is just the beginning.