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Media Release
Legal Support Team
Brutal police attack on WEF protest
7:40PM Tuesday, Crown Casino Melbourne, Australia
Lawyers and members of the legal support team were shocked and outraged by
brutal police assaults on protesters at the World Economic Forum, last night. Witness statements and observations by the legal support team documented the
following account of the police brutality, including the use of potentially
lethal force. Without warning or any attempt at negotiation police attacked a peaceful
blockade outside Crown Casino this evening. The ferocity and violence of the attack was the worst seen so far in WEF
protests marred by police violence. Police charged through and over the protests wielding long PR-24 side handled
batons, striking protesters over the head and body. Protesters were kicked, punched and dragged behind police lines.
Protesters trapped between lines of police horses and the casino fence were
beaten and prodded through the fence with batons. One man was beaten by police, while lying prone, and possibly unconsciousness,
behind police lines. He was subsequently taken to hospital by ambulance with
suspected spinal injuries.
Over 30 people were taken by ambulance or had to attend hospital for treatment.
Several protesters have serious injuries, predominately to the head and neck.
Some remain hospitalized. Several hundred police and at least 40 police horses were used to cordon off the
intersection of Power St and Queensbridge Rd, to allow several buses carrying
WEF delegates to leave the Casino. Some people were arrested, but shortly after released.
Earlier in the day the legal support team had called on the Victorian Ombudsman
to investigate police actions at the protest. Damien Lawson said today, The Victorian Ombudsman must intervene as a matter
of urgency to prevent further unlawful action by the police and serious injuries
to members of the public exercising their right to protest. If protesters have
breached the law they can be dealt with by the courts, rather police have acted
as judge and jury circumventing the justice system by meting out their own arbitrary
brutal and dangerous punishment. Pauline Spencer said today, Which ever member of police command who
authorized this premeditated use of potentially lethal force should resign.
These actions were unjustifiable and parallel human rights abuses seen in some
of the worst repressive regimes in world.
Damien Lawson, Western Suburbs Legal Service
0418 140 387
Pauline Spencer, Fitzroy Legal Service 0417741538
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