Thread by @GideonCRozner

For a brief moment, protesters thought police were laying down their arms and joining them. Lots of cheering, a few in the crowd running to embrace. Turns out they were just taking off equipment to sub in other officers. Police have now beaten back crowd. #MelbourneProtest

Police now closing in on protesters, who had been sitting and chanting peacefully on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance. #MelbourneProtest

Crowd still sitting on the steps of the shrine. Police inching closer. Protesters chant: "We are peaceful! We are peaceful!" #MelbourneProtest

Crowd chanting "Come join us! Come join us!" #MelbourneProtest

Now belting out the national anthem. #MelbourneProtest

Whatever you think about the protests, whatever you think about lockdowns or vaccines or anything else, please tune into one of the many live streams of the #MelbourneProtest right now. Witness this moment.

Crowd now chanting: "Take a knee! Take a knee!"

Good point. #BLM #MelbourneProtest

Protester on megaphone: "Stand your ground. Do not react." #MelbourneProtest

"We want peace! We want peace!" #MelbourneProtest

Protester now addressing @therealrukshan's #MelbourneProtests livestream. Police are offering a compromise - They are happy for the crowd to move on peacefully and are allowing them to pass.

Several protesters coming forward to tell @therealrukshan that "peace is being brokered".

.@therealrukshan: "The police are being reasonable. They are allowing everyone safe passage out."

Protesters and riot squad officers now chatting to each other calmly.

It turns out that talking to protesters is a much more effective tactic than firing rubber bullets at them.

Is this what Shane Patton meant when he said "Our tactics will be different"? #MelbourneProtest

No, hold on. The police ratted on the deal and started taking names of protesters as they left. #MelbourneProtest continues.

All this time another group of police have been moving in from the sides, ostensibly to take details. #MelbourneProtest

Lots of confusion here. Protesters unsure of whether to stay or leave.

Protester on megaphone: "Everybody, stay peaceful."

#melbourneprotests

Protester in megaphone calling for a moment of silence from crowd for suicides. Inviting police to join. #melbourneprotests

Crowd now dead silent. Helicopters can be heard on the live steam. #melbourneprotests

Now cheers, followed by Advance Australia Fair.