Forty vegan activists to face court in June over Monday's CBD protest
Dozens of vegan protesters, including three children, who brought the city to a standstill on Monday have been bailed and will face court in eight weeks' time.
Police have charged 40 people, including two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old, with a total of 122 offences following animal rights protests at the Swanston-Flinders streets intersection and at the Melbourne Aquarium.
One person was charged with assaulting police outside the aquarium, where the group Justice for Captives, the same group responsible for recent protests at Sea World and the Australian Outback Spectacular, had chained themselves together.
Another protester was charged with possessing a drug of dependency.
The most serious charge facing the bulk of protesters – 38 out of the 40 charged – is obstructing emergency workers, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.
They are also charged with obstructing a road and obstructing the path of drivers.
More than 150 vegans and three vans blocked the intersection yesterday, causing widespread traffic delays, to promote an animal-rights film and to protest against factory farming.
Most people moved to the corners of the intersection when ordered by police, but a smaller group huddled together in the middle until they were removed.
All the adults were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 5.
The children were bailed to appear at a children’s court on June 6.