Police say they are ready to attack climate protesters who plan to hold more unauthorized protests this week after members of the Blockade Australia group caused major disruptions at the Sydney CBD on Monday, causing 10 arrests and more are expected in the next days.
In addition to the chaos, train passengers across NSW were warned they expected “significant delays” on Tuesday due to protected industrial action, which will reduce rush hour services by 50 per cent.
Block out Australian climate change protesters at Sydney’s CBD on Monday. Credit: Brook Mitchell
Most of the group, about 60, converged on Hyde Park around 8 a.m. Monday before dispersing through the streets, deliberately impeding traffic and making use of objects in their path (chairs, sandwich boards, and barricades). traffic) to maximize your path. impact.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Dunstan told reporters that police will review CCTV footage and other videos and warned protesters to “wait for them to knock on your door.”
Police were unaware of what Blockade Australia had planned for Tuesday, he said.
But as the group has marked all week for the protest action, police would be “in force everywhere.”
Jonah Shabtay, a spokesman for Blockade Australia, told ABC’s RN breakfast that activists today would again use “creative tactics” at Sydney’s CBD.
Blocks Australian climate change protesters on Monday. Credit: Brook Mitchell
“It’s not something we get excited about: blocking roads,” he said Tuesday morning.
“We have seen demonstrations in the city with 100,000 people who have not given any results, so we really want people to see what we are doing and realize that it is for everyone.
“Everyone should care about having a healthy, livable planet, and the minor inconveniences caused are nothing compared to the ones we face.
“Making an interruption this way is really the only way we’re going to see change.”