Protesters told to prepare to be arrested

A MASS refugee rights sit-in protest will still go ahead this weekend, but not on the Story Bridge after a Supreme Court order banned the activity in the name of public safety.

And organisers have issued a guide to protesters that includes bringing “clothes that cover as much skin as possible”, earplugs, umbrellas, goggles, hat or beanie, mask, hand sanitiser, basic first aid and any medication that may need for an overnight stay at the watchhouse.

On Thursday, Justice Jean Dalton made a declaration that if the protest were to go ahead on the bridge or Main St at Kangaroo Point, it would interfere with public rights.

She said there was a risk the planned action would spread COVID-19 and block major arterial roads.

Justice Dalton issued an injunction, ordering that protesters Jarrah Kershaw, Laura Harland, Dane de Leon, as well as Brisbane city councillor Jonathan Sri, were not to attend or encourage others to attend the planned sit-in protest.

On Friday morning, the Refugee Solidarity Brisbane/ Meanjin Facebook page said they would not be marching on to the Story Bridge at Saturday, instead gathering at Raymond

Park, Kangaroo Point.

“We will be gathering at Raymond Park at midday and marching for the freedom of people inhumanely locked up by the Australian government,” it read.

The statement continued to say the group expected any attempt to sit down on the bridge to be met with a large police presence, including “the use of chemical weapons and mounted police”.