Operation Fortitude canned before it even starts
Nice going Melbourne.
Header image via ABC.
If you have the Facebook news feed of a sane person you'll have seen a lot of anguish today at the Australian government's crazy new push for cracking down on people's VISAs "at random". We don't think there's really much need to explain to most people why this Australian Border Force initiative was inherently problematic (the multitude of memes likening it to Nazi regimes kinda does that work for you), suffice to say it was pretty fucked, any way you look at it.
Fortunately news came through pretty quick-smart that it had been cancelled, via the Victorian Police (below), and the cancelling of a 2pm press conference which was originally announced to further explain Operation Fortitude.
People took to the streets of Melbourne and social media in force today, and the Australian government for once heard the message pretty loud and clear. Video below via 774ABC Melbourne:
Snap anti-Operation Fortitude rally outside Flinders Street StationA hastily organised anti-Operation Fortitude protest outside Flinder's Street Station. The operation - between Victoria Police and Border Force among others - was cancelled not long after.Protesters standing around blocked the intersection holding up trams and cars.ABC NEWS: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-28/border-force-to-check-visas-on-the-streets-of-melbourne/6732086
Posted by 774 ABC Melbourne on Thursday, August 27, 2015