Activists from Anonymous could risk arrest if they go ahead with plans to wear masks into Brisbane’s G20 security zones.
A call has gone out on Facebook for the group’s supporters to “mask up” and march on the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this Saturday, in defiance of an official ban on facial coverings.
Police last night released a statement: “Under the G20 (Safety and Security) Act 2013 masks are a prohibited item within the security area, without a lawful excuse.
“Disruptive activity against the event will not be tolerated. Under the G20 (Safety and Security) Act 2013 police can confiscate a prohibited item.”
The call for Anonymous supporters to don masks – the group is famously associated with Guy Fawkes masks – is made on Facebook page Op V20.
“Our rights are being violated with the G20 laws and we do not need to comly (sic),” reads the page.
“CALLING ALL ANONS FAR AND WIDE TO MASK UP AND MARCH ON THE BRISBANE COVENTION CENTRE 11 10 AM 15TH NOVEMBER.”
Religious facial coverings are not prohibited under the temporary laws.
Police commanders were buoyed yesterday when a peaceful protest through city streets was completed without incident.
The only reported problem on the day was some traffic congestion.
“This is pretty bad, but I’d be happy to sit in this sort of traffic all weekend as long as I’ve got a customer,” said one cabbie who did not want to be named.
Street closures began yesterday as well, with more streets expected to close as the week goes on.
In the first major protest of the G20, indigenous Australians crowded Brisbane streets calling for land rights and an end to the state removal of children.
Officers formed long lines and marched alongside the protesters, in a tactic that will help prevent outbreaks of violence from thugs infiltrating peaceful protests.
Police negotiators wearing blue caps and earpieces for communication with commanders could be seen dotted throughout the crowd.
A police spokeswoman said: “Should the need arise, police negotiators are trained to diffuse a potentially hostile or threatening situation, and aim to resolve it in a peaceful manner.
“The police negotiators are very pleased with the level of co-operation from the issue-motivated groups that they have been dealing with, and the commitment of groups to peaceful and lawful protest.”
Officers wore coloured armbands “to identify different roles and command structures in the field”.
Indigenous leader Wayne Wharton said the protest – which began in Roma St parklands and ended in Musgrave Park shortly after midday – was a text book example of peaceful yet forceful protest.
“Every day of the week we will have forums and discussion groups representing not only indigenous Australians but indigenous people from across the globe,” he said.
“This is our version of the G20, where we draw attention to problems the 20 countries at the meeting in the Convention Centre are ignoring. And we offer creative solutions to those problems.”
The removal of the children from indigenous parents emerged as a central theme in speeches preceding the protest march.
The crowd was told the “Stolen Generation” story continued in Australia today, with hundreds of children taken into state care each year.
As they marched through central Brisbane the protesters, flanked by hundreds of police, chanted “What do we want? Our children back. When do we want it? Now.”