Where does MALS sit with all these ‘anti-lockdown’ protests?

3 September, 2020
We know there’s a lot of anti-lockdown protest activity going on and we are seeing a growing anti-lockdown narrative online and within our own social media feeds. As Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS) we thought it was time we responded properly.
MALS understands that many people feel that the Chief Health Officer (CHO) directives such as mask-wearing, movement restrictions, business closures, and the current Stage 4 evening curfew represent unfair and unjustified infringements of their rights.  For many people, these restrictions may be the first time they have experienced significant limitations upon their freedoms. For others, these restrictions may compound feelings of already being targeted by police.  We understand that many people in Victoria are fearful and have concerns that these limitations on our basic freedoms might represent a growing authoritarianism.