Children among 170 protesters arrested at blockade of world's largest coal port
www.abc.net.au
Police say they have arrested 170 protesters in Newcastle Harbour for allegedly blocking the shipping channel during an anti-fossil fuel protest.

In short:

NSW Police have arrested 138 people for allegedly defying directions not to enter the shipping channel in Newcastle Harbour.

The Port Authority has temporarily paused shipping movements due to safety concerns.

What’s next:

A police operation on the harbour is continuing.

  • Sasha
    8·
    2 hours ago

    The article has been updated to reflect the new count of 170 protestors arrested!!!

    We’re getting near to doubling last year’s 109 (I think?)

    Edit to add some new info I’ve received:

    • 5000 people in attendance
    • 2840 news articles
    • 170 arrests is the largest civil disobedience action in Australian history
    • Flotilla was on the water for 50+ hours

    I won’t be providing details but we had a number of children arrested. We’d all like to highlight the fact that this is a fight for our survival, and that everyday Aussies are turning up en masse to build a better tomorrow. If anyone is considering getting involved with local activism and wants guidance, please reach out at any time, I’m always happy to help. No need to be arrested or anything, there is so much you can do within the law and so much support to be provided to those who break the law, including numerous roles you might not think about.

  • Hanrahan@slrpnk.netEnglish
    12·
    6 hours ago

    Climate change, looking more likely to collpase civilisation, so what do we do? side line green politcans, arrest climate change protestors and keep destroying the world.

  • Sasha
    15·
    9 hours ago

    Something not being talked about is the fact that it’s actually been extremely difficult to get arrested, so a whole lot more people would have been out there at the time.

    I’ve spoken to friends still in Newy and many are just towed back in and released, only to paddle out and have it repeated.

    I was one of the three arrested yesterday, we actually had a fair few more come out with us. Some were arrested then released without charge, one kayak was towed back in something like 8 times and not arrested at all. It was absurd.

    I think we were arrested because we made it the furthest out and actively fought against the jet ski cops. We had them spinning in circles so they couldn’t bring us back into the so called “safety zone.”

      • Sasha
        12·
        8 hours ago

        Thanks for your kind words! 💚💚💚

        I’m afraid I’m unable to offer much as of now as my bail conditions required me to leave Newcastle until my court date.

        For the most part it should all be over now, but who knows, many people are frustrated that the actual blockade was only a few hours long so we may yet see some more arrests.

        All I know at this stage is police have been confiscating paddles and things to stop people coming out onto the water, which is probably an overreach of their powers as it’s perfectly legal to be on the water.