Police will continue to prosecute organisers of a Black Lives Matter rally, despite incorrectly telling the pair that charges against them were being withdrawn | epearson_3
put questions to police about the charges on Tuesday, police said they would not comment on matters before the court.
The police spokeswoman on Wednesday said the women had been incorrectly told that the charges would be dropped and police would still seek to prosecute the matter.“A miscommunication by Victoria Police wrongly identified the matter would be withdrawn,” she said. “We can confirm the charges have not been withdrawn and the matter will proceed at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.“A 41-year-old woman from Geelong North and a 34-year-old woman from Reservoir were charged with breaching chief health officer directions.”The two women – McKinnon, an Amangu Yamaji woman and Indigenous research fellow at RMIT, and Onus, a Gunai and Gunditjmara woman and activist – were originally fined $1652 each for breaching coronavirus restrictions when they organised the rally.
Organisers said they hoped the rally would highlight systemic racism and Aboriginal deaths in custody. But the event was criticised from senior police, government officials and the chief health officer over concerns it may spread COVID-19.The matter is due to be heard in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 15.
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