Peaceful Occupy Melbourne protester violently stripped by Police

[Cjay]

This is another disgusting example of abuse of powers by Melbourne City Council officers and Victoria Police. The mainstream media is complicit in the systematic ridiculing, demonisation and violent harrassment of these peaceful protesters.



This morning (December 5th, 2011) at 8:45am a peaceful Occupy Melbourne Protester was violently stripped of her protest costume and discarded on the ground in her bra and panties. The individual in question was part of the Occupy Melbourne protest and was dressed in a protest costume made from a converted tent. The significance of the costume was to hightlight restrictions placed on protesters staging a 24/7 protest in Flagstaff Gardens.

The protester was surrounded by at least 4 Melbourne City Council officers and 8 Victorian police officers. Her movement was restricted by the formation of officers surrounding her and she was subsequently restrained as officers proceeded with aggressively removing her costume.

At each stage she declared that she did not consent or feel comfortable with the actions of the council and police officers, stating that this was a sexual assault. "This is not consensual".

Her requests and declarations were ignored as officers continued to rip and jossle her costume and person. A knife was requested and used by MCC Officers as the Protest Costume was cut from her body. The remaining severed costume was violently torn from her body while the protester herself was disgarded, semi-naked and crying on the ground as Vic police and MCC officers walked away with the costume.

NO EFFORT was made to assess her health or welling after the incident.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=JAkUB7jRb2c

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=JAkUB7jRb2c

[jcocks]

Wow. That's disgusting...

Was there any real reason why she *HAD* to be stripped of her costume?? I can't think of one...

[Mulder]

This reminds me of the tasty nightclub strip search in the 1990s. She should sue on the same grounds as tasty protesters. However, everyone should know that the Police Bosses are only the Gestapo of the rich, and normal Police are compartmentalised.

[Daft Ada]

I totally agree, this is disgusting, they have violated her and she should take legal action against them.

[Cjay]

I have no doubt the Occupy Melbourne protesters wore tents as costumes knowing it would provoke a response and of course several protesters had camera-phones ready... but this does not excuse the unnecessarily heavy-handed response by police. At the very least, they could have held up a blanket to screen the young lady while female police officers removed the tent-costume and to cover her after the costume was removed.

I have heard that some decent, free-thinking police are privately condemning the excessive force used by some of their colleagues who are being used as pawns in this struggle. That's not the same as taking action against the uduly rough police officers.

I am sure the protest group will do their best to publicise the court case when it occurs.

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Posted by jcocks (here)
Wow. That's disgusting...

Was there any real reason why she *HAD* to be stripped of her costume?? I can't think of one...

Clearly just the Melbourne City Council, council officers and the Victoria Police attempting to assert their authority.

[Carmody]

All the police and security responses at all of these events across the world are seemingly designed to 'one up' the protesters.

The protests in the west have reached the final stage of escalation, I'm thinking.

Like in the days of yore, "the shot that was heard 'round the world", will not be long in happening......again.

[Peace of Mind]

This sought of thing will continue to happen until the people put the police and their governments back into their rightful place. The most disturbing part of that vid (to me) was how insensitive the police were and how powerless the observers felt they were…
I do suspect this sought of authority will be met soon with great resistance, but sadly think it will only happen when the masses are finally pushed to their limits. Hopefully that limit will not be recognize from behind the fences of FEMA camps. IMHO, These vids serve as a strong cup of coffee...I can hardly wait for the effects to kick in...

Peace