Three people have been charged after climate activist Deanna “Violet” Coco and others allegedly used a truck to cause traffic chaos on Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge.
Extinction Rebellion members allegedly parked the truck across three city-bound lanes on the bridge at about 7.45am on Tuesday. They then climbed on top the vehicle and unfurled banners reading “declare a climate emergency” and “climate breakdown has begun”.
“A 33-year-old NSW woman, a 68-year-old Burnside Heights man and a 51-year-old Williamstown man have been charged with public nuisance, hinder police, obstruct police and obstruction of a roadway,” police said in a statement.
Coco was filmed at the protest calling for government action on climate change.
“This is a climate and ecological emergency and our actions every day impact the habitability of our planet for ourselves and for generations to come,” Coco said in a video posted to the group’s Facebook page.
“We’re extremely committed to non-violent direct action, but we are committed to sounding the alarm on the climate and ecological emergency.
“We are asking the government and all levels of society to declare an ecological emergency and to act on that emergency as soon as possible.”