On 16/8/26
16/8 was a counter-protest that experimented with some changes from last time, up against the might of the state as it facilitated an anti-trans TERFash protest. We fell well short of what we wanted despite resisting the cops 'strategic incapacitation' strategy. Some success at previous protests meant police adapted and upped the anti to avoid any repeated embarrassment. We underestimated the level of police response. There were reportedly ~300 cops mobilised, ~50% more than the max at other counters, including Australian Federal Police spotted for the first time at this kind of event. As with every anti-trans rally since March 18th 2023, we also have to plan for a sizeable group of nazis to attend. With the increase in police intimidation, designated area powers and pre-emptive blocking of the entire parliament precinct, it has become more ineffective to be at parliament to drown out the TERFash with noise. Police absurdly threatened on their megaphone at one point that making amplified noise near them was 'assault' they would arrest us for.
Designated area powers embolden police intimidation and are a police attack on our ability to protest. The callout the night before to gather in the gardens an hour before was made with the intention of forming a good group of us to get to the parliament precinct at 11AM. We planned to stick together against any stop and search police harassment. We have also heard this decision created some confusion, about times and locations. When the pre-meet main bloc of us took to the streets, cops violently picked people off from the group under their designated area powers to stop, search and unmask them. They attacked us for taking to the streets and forced people onto the footpath. From here, many of us were on the back foot and some plans went awry.
The main bloc initially ended up at the north side of parliament precinct. Cops used their extra numbers to not just form police lines but roaming gangs of cops to attack our protest. Covid safety, state and antifascist identity protection requires us to take basic safety measures including masking. Our ability to do that was continually attacked by police at a level higher than at previous counter protests. This made it harder for us to stick together. Cops targeted their stop and search and anti-masking powers virtually exclusively at our side. The main bloc was unable to stay at a location near the TERFash for an extended period of time because of these intimidation tactics and had to make tactical retreats. However, a small group later re-formed at the north side and made noise throughout the TERFash rally from a distance, which could be faintly heard on their side.
We understand and are disappointed too, that a main bloc of us had to tactically retreat from police threats. Not that long after the main bloc arrived at the north side, corralled by cops already, cops signaled they were going to escalate, including groups of cops attempting to grab bloc members and riot cops positioning with so-called 'less than lethal' pepperball guns. We were not in a tactically good position to resist this and had to suddenly move to another position to avoid this police attack. A consequence of this defensive move was anyone that rocked up late was left isolated. The main bloc snaked around CBD streets and eventually reached the south side nearer to the TERFash, but cops threatened similar escalation against us that we could not stick around for. We acknowledge that the main blocs movements left people isolated and could have been communicated better. There were mistakes made in how we moved and co-ordinated around Naarm Frontline Medics and these have been discussed and acknowledged. We will be practically working on learning from this, including improving our communications and tactics on sticking together in difficult situations.
Our numbers were at a 100 or so, similar to other counters except for the previous one, which was anomalously bigger. TERFash numbers looked around 50 or so. One external factor which may have led to the last counter turning out hundreds of people was that recent high profile attacks on trans rights, from the UK to so-called 'queensland', had made it easier to argue for people to come out for trans liberation. There's also internal factors to reflect on, with different members of our networks drawing a variety of conclusions. Some of us think there was more destructive conflict between networks in the lead up, which resulted in more inward-looking strategy and tactics and less collaboration across networks, reducing numbers. On the other hand, some of us are heartened by the increased numbers of us in bloc and the organising behind that.
We are in full solidarity with the three of us assaulted and arrested by cops (some to be charged on summons—one fascist was also arrested); and all of us assaulted by thug cops, including their chemical weapons. We care for each other after attacks by the state and remain in solidarity after state repression. There were many more de-arrests than arrests, showing we have power when we stick together. Despite the stark asymmetry of facing heavily armed police, we resisted many police manoeuvres. But we did not have the numbers and preparations in the end, and had to make a tactical retreat outside the designated area after trying to group at both the north and then the south side. All that said, the counter protest disrupted business as usual in a large part of the city, and played a part in limiting the growth and confidence of our opponents.
We will continue to reflect and learn from 16/8. Fuck the police, let's keep fighting for trans liberation!