Climate change protesters block off major road to Parliament House – before being dragged away by cops
More than a dozen climate protesters were dragged away by police after breaking into a rally and sitting on a key access road outside Parliament House.
Protesters from climate action group Rising Tide swarmed the area on Wednesday in a weeklong protest.
They were confronted by a wall of federal officers guarding the nation’s legislature.
ACT police confirmed 19 people had been arrested for “various offences”.
“ACT Policing arrested 19 people for various offenses during protest activities at Parliament House today,” a spokesperson said.
‘Parts of Federation Mall around Parliament House were temporarily closed to traffic for the safety of protesters and police.
“Police will continue to monitor the protest and respond if necessary.”
NewsWire heard one activist, a middle-aged woman, shout “climate justice now” as she was carried away by her arms and legs.
More than a dozen climate change protesters have been taken away by police after blocking a major road to Parliament House in Canberra (pictured)
Another activist posed for a photo as officers carried him away.
Among the protest songs was a call to halt all new coal mining projects.
NSW Police arrested 170 protesters outside Australia’s largest coal port in Newcastle this weekend after members of the group allegedly used kayaks and small watercraft to enter the restricted shipping channel.
Police said 156 people arrested at the Newcastle protest were adults, while 14 were children.