Margie Pestorius's Bail Story - Climate Movement Action
Channel: Wage Peace
Date: 2023-03-06

In June 2022, Margie attended a mobilisation called  by event organisers -Blockade Australia. Blockade Australia was challenging the way the Australian State, its entities and its corporations and institutions were blocking action on climate issues. After attending a march Margie was arrested at a bus stop near Central Station, put in a jail cell and then after 30 hours released by a magistrate who imposed some of the most punitive restrictions we have see on protesters who are acting in ways that are peaceful and non- harming.  The UN committee that looks after article 21 of the Human Rights law has made a statement: General Statement number 37. It states clearly what police can and can't do about peaceful assemblies - whether they are disruptive or not. People must be allowed to organise. To meet with friends, to talk about what is wrong in this society. The police don't get to choose our political mechanisms. The police in Sydney have way too much power and that power must be limited.