Victorian government condemns protesters who clashed with police at pride march as Midsumma blames ‘both sides’
The Victorian government has condemned protesters who confronted police at Melbourne’s Midsumma Pride March as thugs, and called on event organisers to follow suit.
A contingent of about 100 people from Victoria police, including the chief commissioner, Shane Patton, were among the more than 15,000 marchers who participated in the event in St Kilda on Sunday.
Police were confronted by up to 50 protesters as they marched, with the force accusing the group of surrounding its members on three sides, hurling abuse and throwing paint bombs.
“Their conduct, I have nothing but contempt for it,” Patton said.
“Someone was in a pig’s head. This was a next-level elevation. Their intent was clear.”
The march is one of the signature events at the Midsumma festival celebrating solidarity in gender and sexual diversity.
But police participation in pride events is controversial within the LGBTQ+ community, given their origin out of the protest movement against police oppression of queer people.
“We are highly disappointed by the disruption of the march and the escalation of events from both sides,” the Midsumma festival chief executive, Karen Bryant, told media on Sunday.
Patton rejected Bryant’s claim that police contributed to the escalation in an interview on ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday morning, saying he was “really pleased” with the “restraint that was shown under the amount of pressure that the public order response team was placed under”.
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The Civil Resistance Youth Movement (CRYM), one of the groups involved in the protests, said “the staunch queers who fought back against VicPol … have earned their Pride”, in a post on Instagram following the march.
“It’s always been a riot. Honour our history. Stand up for the oppressed,” the post said.
The police minister, Anthony Car
bines, said the state government supported Patton’s comments and flagged those responsible for the attack would face consequences.
“The government condemns the behaviour of a small minority of people who chose to attack police,” he told reporters on Monday.
“You don’t get to bring your views to the table and discuss them or promote them when you’re acting like a thug.”
The equality minister, Harriet Shing, also weighed in via a statement on Monday afternoon.
She said while the history of pride marches was “rooted in protest against discrimination and violence” and “should be remembered”, Victorians should also celebrate “change and progress”.
“We have achieved so much change in recent years and that includes significant changes to institutions that have caused us pain or harm in the past,” Shing said.
“That is why I was incredibly disappointed to see the disgraceful behaviour by a small number of people directed against LGBTIQA+ members of Victoria police who joined us at Pride March yesterday.”
She said the “courage” of Victoria police staff to show up and be “openly themselves” deserved recognition and respect.
Another group, No Police at Pride, which did not organise the protest but supported the action, condemned Victoria police’s “shameful violence” in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.
“Victoria Police officers are allegedly trained to deescalate tense situations, but instead chose to engage in violence against Queer people,” the statement said.
“In reality, Victoria Police have proven themselves to be an abhorrent, ugly rabble again and again.”
Vision of the clash shows police and protesters pushing and shoving each other as chants of “cops kill queers” rang out.
A banner also read: “No pride in prisons. Vicpol + Serco queers hate you.”
A 34-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a spectator but released without charge.
Police are reviewing footage of the clash to determine if further action is required.
Asked whether Victoria’s move-on powers should be strengthened, Carbines said the state government was always open to discussions with police but wasn’t considering other laws.
“Yesterday was just a concerted and premeditated attack on members of Victoria police who were participating in a community event,” he said.
“Nobody accepts that. It’s not tolerated and there are no excuses for it. It should be condemned by the organisers without equivocation.”
Carbines indicated the government would likely sit down with festival organisers to discuss methods to prevent a repeat.
“There are elements that are going to need to be addressed,” he said.
“Because everyone deserves to be able to participate ... in a safe way and not to be threatened or assaulted. It doesn’t matter who you are.”
Midsumma festival has been contacted for further comment.