Brisbane is definitely broken in a manner in which I’d hoped we’d seen the last of.
The goal of protest is not more protest, but the goal of protest is change.
― DeRay Mckesson, Black Lives Matter activist
As you would know, if you’re a regular here, that Brisbane City Council has closed both footpaths/cycleways on Brisbane’s Story Bridge. I wrote an article about it, then followed it up with an update and let you know about an electronic petition that was circulating. And, as of publication of this one, still is.
Well, it all happened then didn’t happen in relatively quick succession.
There was a protest organised, the correct paperwork filed, and a peaceful group was mobilised. The notice went out on Facebook that there was going to be a group of active transport users blocking the traffic on all 6 lanes of the Story Bridge with their bikes, prams, or just trainers.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) filed in the Courts for an injunction to stop the protest from happening sighting “Safety Concerns”.
QPS stated that they could not guarantee the safety of the protestors, and that the impacts to motorists would be too significant for Brisbane to cope with.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
[Remarks on the first anniversary of the Alliance for Progress, 13 March 1962]”
― John F. Kennedy
Sadly, the Magistrate hearing the motion decided to agree with the QPS Prosecutor, sending us back into the Bad Old Days of Sir Joh Bjekle-Petersen (Sir Joh)
For those who wan the TLDR version, Sir Joh was the king of the Jerrymander and, back in the 1970’s and 1980’s ruled with an iron fist. He declared that no one in Queensland was allowed to protest and made them illegal. This didn’t stop people from doing so but, those who did met the end of the Queensland Police Force’s (QPF, as it was know back then) Billy clubs and unceremoniously loaded into the back of paddy wagons.
It was a common sight to see on the news, my mother’s cousin Lloyd, being loaded
QPF also had a “Special Branch”, whose main (and reportedly, sole) function was to keep an eye on those who engaged in political descent. I’d bet that Lloyd had a Special Branch file a metre thick!
Sadly the modern-day QPS has re-instituted the Special Branch but given it a less menacing name: Obsessed Person’s Unit. Different name but, in theory, a different purpose. I hope so. For my sake.
The Queensland Police Service is meant to protect the people engaging in lawful activities, not present roadblocks when it’s politically convenient or otherwise. Stating, in their brief, that they couldn’t guarantee the safety of the protesters is a junk argument. Roadblocks at the access roads would have been sufficient. And it’s their job.
Not only only is it their job, it’s written on their shirtsleeves: Protect and Serve. And that means everybody, not just the politically opportune ones.
By my inclusion the JFK quote, I am not inciting a call to arms. Not over a bike lane or pedestrian access, no matter the danger or inconvenience. I am suggesting that, should this become a precedent for all protests the government finds inconvenient, then there will be problems from those who seek the change we should have.
I can only but hope that this issue will be resolved promptly and that either one of the sides of the bridge is reopened while repairs are made to the other, the assessment isn’t as bad as we hoped, or some other compromise is reached in a hurry.
Stay peaceful, and stay safe.