This article was originally published by QNews. You can find the original article here.
Counter-protesters have outnumbered attendees of a Melbourne anti-trans rally, disrupting speeches by blasting ABBA and the Vengaboys over large speakers.
But Victoria Police said they were “disappointed” eggs and water balloons were thrown at organisers of the “Women Will Speak” rally on the steps of the state’s Parliament House in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
About 20 participants – including a Victorian MP, Bev McArthur – from the Women’s Action Group attended and addressed the rally.
The speeches at the “women’s rights” rally, streamed on WAG’s YouTube channel, were filled with hateful anti-trans misinformation.
Signs visible included “trans women are men” and “no male cheats in women’s sports”.
According to online posts, the group Trans Queer Solidarity called a “Trans Liberation” rally at the same location in response.
“Help our community drown out the hateful and regressive rhetoric,” the group wrote.
Around 150 counter-protesters outnumbered the WAG rally protesters. A human police barricade separated the two groups, including officers on horses on the street by the parliament.
Counter-protesters waved anti-fascism placards and blasting music – including ABBA and the Vengaboys – during the speeches.
Victoria Police said in a statement officers arrested a 36-year-old Brunswick woman for allegedly assaulting police.
“She has been released pending further inquiries,” a spokesperson said.
Victoria Police said counter-protesters were “throwing eggs and water balloons at the speakers involved”.
“There were no injuries reported,” the police said.
“Victoria Police is disappointed with the actions of the group and while it supports peaceful protests it has a zero-tolerance policy for violence or disruptive acts which impact the broader community.”
Bev McArthur, Liberal Party MLC, is addressing about 20 assorted cookers, neo-Nazis and RWNJs, fear mongering about transgender people, and about the care provided by the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Utter disgrace. pic.twitter.com/uiNfxNRgta
— “Ceasefire Now” says CJ Murrumbeena (@CJMurrumbeena) August 17, 2024
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