Thousands of Australians took to the streets in protests at the weekend, many flouting COVID-19 public health restrictions during a spiralling outbreak, all in the vague pursuit of “freedom”.
Hundreds were fined and dozens were arrested during the demonstrations, which turned violent at times.
What the diverse crowd of protesters — united under the banner of a “worldwide rally for freedom” — specifically wanted was unclear other than a chance to show dissent to restrictions and to gain attention.
The lack of clear purpose and demands reveals the decentralised nature of the rallies, organised by a constellation of groups and individuals ranging from full-on conspiracy theorists to frustrated citizens. They used social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as forwarded messages through apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Since the start of Australia’s first lockdown in March last year, various groups and personalities have organised anti-lockdown rallies at least every month with varying levels of attendance.
An investigation by online publication Logically found that the “worldwide rally for freedom”, a consistent branding that’s been used for many of these anti-lockdown rallies, were seeded across the world by one German cell of anti-vaxxers.
A surprisingly small group of individuals created dozens of Facebook events and other online spaces dedicated to organising protests in different countries. Then existing personalities and groups adopted the events and their branding, organising around them. These for the most part tended to be the hardcore anti-lockdown people with conspiracy or extremist views.
What made this weekend different was the sheer scale and diversity of people who came with that scale. As Josh Butler reported in the New Daily the protests were attended by “anti-vaxxer groups, COVID sceptics, conspiracy theorists, QAnon supporters, wellness and fitness groups, libertarian groups and multicultural backgrounds, as well as far-right extremists”. Certainly these protests had a core of those with extreme views but they were joined by large numbers of ordinary Australians who wanted to make their displeasure known.
The size of protests since the start of the pandemic have correlated with the introduction of stricter public health measures. The first major rallies happened during the start of Victoria’s second wave last year, then died down. Anti-lockdown groups from Victoria grew on the back of longer lockdowns last year. Then COVID-19 vaccines produced a new burst of energy. But largely interest dwindled as Australians’ lives went back to normal through much of 2020. Until now.
It’s reasonable to expect that this interest, too, will die down when lockdowns ease. But in Sydney’s case that may not be for a while as the NSW government is reportedly modelling how lockdowns will affect the state if they continue on into September.
There are long-term impacts from these events. Extreme organisations, including organised anti-vaxxer and far-right groups, are trying to harness this outrage and frustration by bringing people into the fold. One example is anti-lockdown/anti-vaccination group Reignite Democracy Australia that has been trying to build a sustainable organisation, raise money and has registered as a political party.
As they have before, protesters have promised to rally again soon. Whether they’ll draw the same number — or more! — depends on whether many disaffected Australians exhausted from months of harsh lockdown measures still feel they aren’t being heard or helped.
Racists, fascists,sexists and right-wing nut jobs aside,I don’t mind people having nutty ideas but I draw the line and nutty ideas that threaten other peoples’ health and safety. (I’m also not keen on people who outsource their conscience and ethics to imaginary friends in the sky)
They are certainly endangering other people’s health and safety, but if everybody else were doing all the right things – getting vaccinated, wearing masks, restricting movement and so on – those selfish loons would themselves be protected by the suppression of the virus. That is what I can’t stand about anti-vaxxers and lockdown critics; they benefit, without even knowing or being thankful, from others’ communal spirit.
Exactly right Greg, those idiots are only making it worse for others!
If you got a issue then make a change at the ballot box and do not jeapordise others by you antics.
A 30 year old died at the same time these idiots were protesting, I hope they all get fined!
Whether one agrees with the protests or not (including how they were carried out), we must not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The right to protest is an important liberty that should be available to all.
Aye, there’s the rub, whether ’tis nobler to suffer the slings & arrows of intolerance & stupidity or take arms against a sea of ignorance & arrogance and by opposing, end them.
Apologies to BillS.
Hi Greg,
I was going to write a response to this article but your concise, pithy and succinct post has said everything that I wanted to say. I support your comments entirely.
Crap!
So, Cam, I assume you have attempted to identify those who participated and therefore have evidence of your claim that these were “ordinary Australians”? Feel free to tell us what you mean by that phrase.
I ask because their social media posts suggest a disproportionate number of protesters were young men in their 20s and “wellness” influencers or consumers.
i am disturbed about the continuing attempts to import US libertarian ideas into Australia. “Freedom” is not the right to physically endanger other people.
Yes. A US flag was notable amongst the images of the Melbourne rally aired by ABC TV news
“they were joined by large numbers of ordinary Australians who wanted to make their displeasure known”. You’ve got to be joking! By endangering others who have common sense and taking the care we need for us all to get through this? Charge them all!
“large numbers of ordinary Australians” who aren’t very bright.
Yet, apparently, we’re the “sheep”! It’s as if taking medicine for an illness make US the dupes!
‘taking medicine for an illness’.
What about the prospect of taking ‘medicine’ for an ‘illness’ that a) you don’t have and b) even if you did, the statistical survivability rate is 99.98% (barring the over 80’s and those with at least 2 co-morbidities, obesity being the main one).
People have every right to express their views and this, I would have thought, should be welcome in any democratic society – denigrating and name calling will not increase vaccination numbers.
Compulsory medication and treatment is nothing new – in the 50/60s as a result of mass immigration from shattered Europe chest x-rays (using does multiples higher than is now considered safe) for TB was the norm, mobile units would visit high streets regularly.
In primary school we were required to have the TB antigen test.
And anyone found to be infected was interned in purpose built units (there’s an old idea for the new moment) and cured with cheap & effective treatment.
Then there is the sodium fluoride added to the drinking water and folic acid to flour to ave drunks from themselves.
Poliomyelitis vaccine, anyone?
The virulent red solution (that I watched sinking into my 8yr old arm) was welcomed by every thinking person.
Sorry, “..using doses multiples higher…”
The development of the Poliomyelitis vaccine is not without it’s own troubled history and well illustrates why expediency should not be prioritised over safety. The following is from the Journal of the Society of Medicine:
‘In April 1955 more than 200,000 children ..received a polio vaccine in which the process of inactivating the live virus proved to be defective. Within days there were reports of paralysis and within a month the first mass vaccination programme against polio had to be abandoned. Subsequent investigations revealed that the vaccine…had caused 40,000 cases of polio, leaving 200 children with varying degrees of paralysis and killing 10.
Progress towards a safer vaccine eventually followed, for which we are all thankful.
My point, again, is that the removal of the normal checks and balances in the development stage of a vaccine, should, by necessity, be a serious concern, particularly when the fatality rate of the disease it is meant to defeat, is demonstrably low.
I wholeheartedly concur with you last paragraph.
When profit & political pusillanimity breed, the offspring is never to the benefit of the public
Spot on – This bunch of Karens have rolled over under the strain of 24/7 Covid propaganda. Anyone would think you can trust the big Pharmaceutical Companies who have paid Billions in fines & costs for past harm they have done. Stupid idiots – get your jabs & then line up for your booster shots every year.
Dr. Roger Hodkinson, Chairman of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons committee in Ottawa, CEO of a large private medical laboratory SELLING THE COVID-19 TEST says,
“there is utterly unfounded public hysteria driven by the media and politicians. This is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on an unsuspected public.”
What is an ordinary Australian these days?
Just so long as these ordinarily law-abiding Australians released all of their frustrations along with Covid all is right with the world? Stuff that! They have put the entire country at risk. I’m all for people be able to protest but not when we are in lockdown and not when we are in such a perilous position regarding the Delta strain. Selfish self-centred bastards. Quiet Australians? Pull the other leg.