A ‘sex-based women’s rights’ protest has erupted as counter-protesters supporting transgender rights faced off with police.
Protesters associated with Women’s Voices Australia had gathered on the steps of Victorian Parliament House in Melbourne on Saturday.
The group, which frequently uses the slogan ‘biology isn’t bigotry’, prompted a demonstration from pro-trans activists who marched through the CBD to the building.
The almost 100-strong counter-protest reached parliament at 11am before being pushed away by police officers who sparked an altercation.
In footage from the scene, people dressed in black with their faces covered could be heard yelling slogans, including ‘all cops are Nazis’ as they faced off with authorities.
Individuals were seen jostling with officers, throwing various items including an umbrella and flares at police.
Officers arrested four people over the course of the protest.
It is understood pepper spray was also deployed to bring demonstrators under control.
Pro-trans rights protesters clashed with police at a protest in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured)
The protesters arrived in response to plans for a sex-based women’s rights demonstration
Protesters could be seen holding signs opposing ‘TERFascists’ – TERF is an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist
Victoria Police were on high alert for the protest since yesterday after neo-Nazis threatened to hijack the action.
Pro-trans protesters had also encouraged demonstrators to interfere with journalists.
On Saturday, some members of the group could be seen using umbrellas to block TV news cameras and allegedly launched one at a journalist.
‘Three police officers were injured, but none required hospitalisation,’ a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
Police said the arrests came after officers struggled to contain some demonstrators.
The force carried out 145 searches and forced 50 demonstrators to remove their face coverings.
A 21-year-old Flemington man was arrested after allegedly hitting a police officer with an umbrella about 11.30am. He was charged with assault police and bailed to appear at court at a later date.
At least four people have been arrested at the demonstration in Melbourne (pictured, police hold up a protester)
Police have reportedly deployed capsicum spray as protesters could be seen jostling with officers (pictured, protesters in Melbourne)
A 19-year-old woman from Wallington and a 27-year-old man from Coburg were arrested for allegedly possessing flares.
They are expected to be charged on summons.
A 33-year-old man from Oakleigh South was arrested for failing to move on. He is also expected to be charged on summons.
Women’s Voices Australia previously protested in April following the passage of anti-vilification laws in Victoria.
During the earlier march, four officers were injured after protesters threw various objects and missiles at police
Protesters also attempted to block intersections while carrying wooden pallets.
Women’s Voices Australia organiser Jasmine Sussex affirmed on Friday the protest would go ahead.
‘Women have had enough of angry men claiming special gender identity hijacking women’s sex based rights. We won’t be silenced!’ she said.
‘Threatening middle-aged women who refuse to be dehumanised as cervix havers is dumb politics.’
