Yep, I got arrested trying to block a coal ship in the world's largest coal port and I'm proud as fuck, give all your love to the protest organisers. I've talked about it a ton over in this thread (and a few others in similar communities). I was joined by a handful of other people, including a student doctor who is in this photo but hard to see, she's on my right in the shade. She's so damn brave and a huge inspiration.
This took place at the People's Blockade, an annual "protestival" organised by a group called Rising Tide.
I'm the (misgendered ๐ก) 27 year old in this article.
170 people then set a new record for the largest civil disobedience action in Australian history the following day, they're all incredibly brave people who have had enough.
We fought the government in court and won the right to protest against the fossil fuel corporations who are burning our children's futures. We also fight to secure the future jobs of the workers in these industries, demanding a 78% tax on current fossil fuel projects to help them in the transition to a renewable future.
It's been a long few days, I've just arrived home about half an hour ago. Goodnight.
The police narrative has been all about safety, but it's honestly been a huge lie. At no point was I or anyone else in any danger, everything I did was well planned. There wasn't even a ship in the channel at the time and it wasn't possible for me to put anyone else in danger, that's a conscious decision you have to make for yourself as the channel is a fair way from the shore.
The arrest happened because we paddled out into the shipping channel and deliberately disobeyed a lawful order.
Police exist to protect the private interests of the wealthy, they were not there for anyone's actual safety. There was a safety team out on the water as part of the protest, and they're doing a far better job than the police ever have. In all honesty the police are the biggest safety risk to us, I've seen images of people being handled very roughly and I watched them manhandle an elderly man from the boat in this photo.
This protest has run for 13 years now and every year except this one we've been allowed to sit in the channel for a few dozen hours without incident. The government wants business as usual and we had no intention of allowing that.