1/Did Violet Coco’s imprisonment outrage you? The full story's even more shocking.
Police and lawmakers in NSW are subverting democracy in *unprecedented* ways.
Making dozens more face Violet's fate.
A breakdown - how we got here + what we can do🧵
👇👇👇 #NSWPol #ProtectProtest
Police and lawmakers in NSW are subverting democracy in *unprecedented* ways.
Making dozens more face Violet's fate.
A breakdown - how we got here + what we can do🧵
👇👇👇 #NSWPol #ProtectProtest
2/April: Anti-protest law passed w full Lib/Nat & Labor support. You can now be punished w up to 2 years in prison + $22K fines for disrupting a major road.
June: 32 activists arrested for peaceful climate march thru Sydney under S144G (Roads Act).
Sound bad yet? Read on.
June: 32 activists arrested for peaceful climate march thru Sydney under S144G (Roads Act).
Sound bad yet? Read on.
3/Here’s how it's unprecedented: someone arrested for a nonviolent protest would normally face police bail immediately after arrest. These peaceful marchers (arrested for a traffic charge) were jailed, refused bail & in some cases held in police cells up to 35 hrs.
It gets worse
It gets worse
4/Some of the protesters were arrested 5 or 6 days *after* the action. For a traffic charge.
That's unheard of.
It would normally be an infringement notice or a court summons by mail.
Not an arrest.
When they were released, their bail conditions were extreme…
That's unheard of.
It would normally be an infringement notice or a court summons by mail.
Not an arrest.
When they were released, their bail conditions were extreme…
5/Bail orders included:
- Non-association from friends & ppl they don’t know
- Limits on communication devices & platforms (like WhatsApp)
- A ban on entering Sydney CBD
Bail this severe is usually reserved for *serious crime organisations*. Not peaceful protesters.
This means:
- Non-association from friends & ppl they don’t know
- Limits on communication devices & platforms (like WhatsApp)
- A ban on entering Sydney CBD
Bail this severe is usually reserved for *serious crime organisations*. Not peaceful protesters.
This means:
6/They could breach bail if they
- attend a protest that friends are at
- use WhatsApp
- transit thru the CBD
Punishment? Prison. Immediately.
And it's only been done to climate protesters.
It’s clear what this is: political, targeted intimidation.
Backed by both major parties
- attend a protest that friends are at
- use WhatsApp
- transit thru the CBD
Punishment? Prison. Immediately.
And it's only been done to climate protesters.
It’s clear what this is: political, targeted intimidation.
Backed by both major parties
7/Anyone who dares oppose their reckless climate policies - or corporate interests driving them - will be made an example.
It's a medieval head on a spike and an attack on our democratic foundations.
And Violet + dozens more could bear the brunt w hard time.
We can't back down
It's a medieval head on a spike and an attack on our democratic foundations.
And Violet + dozens more could bear the brunt w hard time.
We can't back down
8/What can we do?
- Spread the word
- Sign our petition - to reverse these laws and enshrine dissent into law greens.org.au/nsw/campaigns/…
- Contact @Dom_Perrottet & @ChrisMinnsMP - tell them you want this reversed, now
- Spread the word
- Sign our petition - to reverse these laws and enshrine dissent into law greens.org.au/nsw/campaigns/…
- Contact @Dom_Perrottet & @ChrisMinnsMP - tell them you want this reversed, now
9/Attend tomorrow's rally against this in Sydney - 2 PM @ Sydney Town Hall: m.facebook.com/events/s/prote…
And next March at the NSW state election, vote more Greens into Parliament.
So we can turn this around and reclaim our democracy and rights, for good.
And next March at the NSW state election, vote more Greens into Parliament.
So we can turn this around and reclaim our democracy and rights, for good.
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