After today’s total fuckery of an announcement that the Australian Border Force would be stopping people in the Melbourne streets to check their visas – codename: Operation Fortitude – Melburnians rallied, and boy, did they fucking rally good. [NB: ABF since backtracked after today’s media coverage.]
In the space of approx. one hour, protesters got themselves down to Flinders St, succeeding in shutting down the street, the media conference, and – as of right now – the entire operation. Operation Fortitude will NOT be going ahead this weekend.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE. Here’s the official statement from the Victoria Police:
“Victoria Police has made a decision not to go ahead with this weekend’s Operation Fortitude.”
“We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern with has been taken into consideration when making this decision.”
Victoria Police’s priority is the safety and well-being of the whole communicate and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to achieve this.”
Melbourne – *wipes away tear* – you did us proud, mates.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlum basically speaks for all of us:
melbourne to abbott: “take your toe-in-the-water its-for-your-own-good soft fascism and ram it” #OperationFortitude #GoodWorkMelbourne
— Scott Ludlam (@SenatorLudlam) August 28, 2015
Honest to god, there’s never been a more appropriate time to use this gif:
#borderforce still here, still protecting us. From? pic.twitter.com/jAxxT8Mfwb
— BK (@26Suicides) August 28, 2015
#borderforce #borderfarce even the MSM is hearing the NO to this police state pic.twitter.com/gv6ipdjmt1
— BK (@26Suicides) August 28, 2015
Police unable to say if operation fortitude will go ahead w #BorderForce #abcnews #lateline pic.twitter.com/EYWPPl1GS6
— Hamish Fitzsimmons (@hamishfitz) August 28, 2015
. #BorderForce bringing people together pic.twitter.com/QblaqYaP7E
— Jeff Sparrow (@Jeff_Sparrow) August 28, 2015
And they’re still here #borderforce. Intersection at a standstill pic.twitter.com/ZLo81wy59i
— Tammy Mills (@TammyMills1) August 28, 2015
Abbott can’t organise a piss up in a brewery anymore. BorderFarce press conference crashed by protesters #borderforce pic.twitter.com/CRrTvBO3qP
— Angus (@middleton_angus) August 28, 2015
Protesters against #BorderForce are now blocking traffic at Flinders St intersection. pic.twitter.com/WYpGnsmSeb
— Catalyst Magazine (@rmitcatalyst) August 28, 2015
#borderforce defiance in #melbourne pic.twitter.com/bTZYTEMJuU
— BK (@26Suicides) August 28, 2015
Just spoke to #BorderForce media. No confirmation press conference cancelled but maybe 200 angry protestors here now pic.twitter.com/QxoBZmTHNO
— Patrick Durkin (@patrickdurkin) August 28, 2015
Which can be summed up entirely by Jo Thornely‘s Twitter account:
*#BorderForce HQ door slams open*
“WHY ARE YOU SO LATE FOR THE PRESSER”
“Sir how do you spell ‘widespread xenophobia’”
— Jo Thornely (@jothornely) August 28, 2015
“Can you believe they haven’t voted us out yet?”
“Nup”
“Time to start stopping random people on the street?”
“Ha! Yes! Good one”
— Jo Thornely (@jothornely) August 28, 2015
Press conference for #BorderForce cancelled due to an unexpectedly high number of reasonable people tuning in.
— Jo Thornely (@jothornely) August 28, 2015
Seems weird to cancel something before you’re able to articulate why you want to do it, what it’s for or how it’s done. #BorderForce
— Jo Thornely (@jothornely) August 28, 2015
“We were only joking” – The Australian Government #BorderForce
— Jo Thornely (@jothornely) August 28, 2015
Apparently the protesters are on a victory lap AS WE SPEAK. Give yourselves ten thousand pats on the back, friends.
Protestors currently completing “victory lap” of flinders street #BorderForce #auspoI pic.twitter.com/qmsFqosWwE
— Catalyst Magazine (@rmitcatalyst) August 28, 2015
