Dozens of vegan protesters caused traffic chaos in Melbourne‘s CBD this morning as part of coordinated demonstrations against Australia‘s livestock industry.
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Demonstrators took to the intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston Street around 7am, bearing placards with pro-vegan slogans and advocating for controversial 2018 documentary Dominion.
Footage from the scene appeared to show demonstrators chained to vans.
The protest caused headaches for commuters. Police diverted peak-hour traffic around the area, while many major tram lines were also forced to take alternate routes.
Due to a protest in Swanston St
– No Swanston St trams running between Stop 14 Arts Precinct and Stop 11 Collins St.
– Some trams diverting via William St/La Trobe St between Stop 22 Toorak Rd and Stop 7 RMIT University.— Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) April 7, 2019
INCIDENT: CBD – A protest currently underway in the CBD has the Flinders Street Swanston Street intersection blocked. @VictoriaPolice are currently on-site. Allow extra time. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/fegQOalKX3
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) April 7, 2019
The Melbourne demonstration coincided with protest action further afield. 3AW reported protesters barricaded the entrance of the MC Herd abattoir in Geelong, while an animal rights group told the ABC its members had chained themselves to abattoir equipment in Yangan, near Brisbane.
Vegan activists have also blocked the entrance to the MC Herd abattoir in Geelong. pic.twitter.com/lRUXMSw5gW
— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) April 7, 2019
The protests comes one year after the release of Dominion, which animal rights advocates say catalogues the routine and industrial-scale abuse of Australian livestock.
Today’s demonstrations also come amid increasing scrutiny in Queensland, as the State Government gears up to enforce tougher penalties on farm trespassers.
Commuters have been advised to check the Yarra Trams website for details regarding their services, while the demonstrators have advised folks to stop eating meat.
