Young woman cements herself to a car during third and final day of anti-war protests in Melbourne
A young woman has been arrested by police after her arm was cemented to the back of a car during the final day of anti-war protests in Melbourne.
The activist is said to have stopped a vehicle on the bridge near the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at around 7.30am on Friday.
She then allegedly opened the trunk, put her hand in a bag of concrete and cemented her arm to the car.
Traffic came to a complete standstill as surrounding motorists had to stop.
Police watched as they used concrete shears and a chisel to cut the woman’s concrete-encased hand from the trunk of the car.
About 50 people have been arrested in the past three days of protests in Melbourne’s CBD, with police prepared for possible further violence.
Organisers of the rally expect “significant protest activity” to take place on Friday as the Land Forces arms fair in Melbourne draws to a close after days of unrest.
“There will be a renewed protest movement because it is the last day,” said organizer Caroline Da Silva.
The young activist glued her arm to the back of a hatchback on Friday
Traffic was at a standstill when police carried out an operation on Friday
Police had to cut her arm free from the vehicle using a chisel and bolt cutters
“This is our last chance to show these arms companies that they are not welcome here.”
The first day of the expo, Wednesday, erupted into violence and chaos, with trash cans set on fire and horse manure, food acid and glass bottle “rockets” fired at police barricades.
Riot police officers fired back at the 1,500 protesters with rubber bullets, tear gas and flash grenades, arresting 42 people.
But on Thursday, the scenes were much more subdued as a few hundred protesters marched toward the convention center and then left.
They later gathered again outside the Bourke Street offices of defence contractors Hanwha Defence and Elbit Systems to protest against deals between the companies and governments that blocked access for cars and trams.
Protesters say the weapons on display at the exhibition were used against civilians during the Gaza conflict.
Police and political leaders condemned the ‘outrageous’ actions and tactics of activists
Protesters set fire to a wooden pallet during protests on Wednesday
Police and political leaders condemned the activists’ “outrageous” actions and tactics, calling them “thugs.”
Police Chief Shane Patton slammed “hypocritical” protesters and warned that the largest deployment of officers in two decades would be prepared for any event at the conference.
Patton’s criticism has not deterred activists. Da Silva said the protesters were “here for the long haul.”
“A little bit of police spray, a few rubber bullets – those things are harmful, but they don’t change our conscience,” she said.
“We are here because we are people of good will and good spirit who want to see peace, justice and freedom. Police violence cannot change that.”