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Climate protesters begin week of major disruptions in Sydney CBD

Madeleine AchenzaNCA NewsWire
A Lismore resident identified as 22-year-old Mali locked themself to a steering wheel on the Harbour Bridge Tunnel. Facebook
Camera IconA Lismore resident identified as 22-year-old Mali locked themself to a steering wheel on the Harbour Bridge Tunnel. Facebook Credit: Supplied

A week of disruption is under way in Sydney as a climate protest group with a history of extreme attention-grabbing stunts have caused chaos for Monday morning commuters.

About 200 climate activists have taken to the streets of the CBD in an unauthorised demonstration to protest political inaction on climate change.

Demonstrations began around 8am at Hyde Park, where protesters met before marching through the streets.

Aerial view of traffic approaching the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Picture Sunrise
Camera IconAerial view of traffic approaching the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Channel 7 Credit: Channel 7

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Protesters threw concrete blocks, garbage bins, pushbikes and ladders onto the city streets in an effort to disrupt traffic and delay police officers trying to disrupt the protest.

NSW Police have trailed the parade of protesters on foot and with a convoy of vehicles with sirens wailing, cleaning up after the protesters in an attempt to clear roads.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Tunnel is closed as a result of one protester who parked her car across the road just before the tunnel entrance.

SYDNEY PROTESTS Blockade Australia
Camera IconPolice try to contain Blockade Australia protesters as they disrupt CBD traffic. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia
SYDNEY PROTESTS Blockade Australia
Camera IconPolice officers followed in step behind protesters marching through the streets. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia

Blockade Australia has identified the protester as 22-year-old Mali, who live streamed themself disrupting traffic at the tunnel with her head locked to her steering wheel with a bike lock.

Police have cleared the site and the 22-year-old has been arrested and taken to North Sydney police station, where charges are anticipated.

The vehicle is in the process of being removed.

A Lismore resident locked herself to a steering wheel and live streamed. Picture: Facebook
Camera IconA Lismore resident identified as 22-year-old Mali locked themself to a steering wheel on the Harbour Bridge Tunnel. Facebook Credit: NCA NewsWire
SYDNEY PROTESTS Blockade Australia
Camera IconProtesters are disrupting traffic across the Sydney CBD. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia

“Disruption to the infrastructure of Australia’s project of exploitation is essential in cutting through the climate denial that this system survives off,” Mali said.

“It makes perfect sense to start at the guts of this system and disrupt its most important points.”

SYDNEY PROTESTS Blockade Australia
Camera IconProtesters and police move roadside barriers back and forth during strike action. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia
SYDNEY PROTESTS Blockade Australia
Camera IconProtesters pick up construction material from the kerb and throw it onto the street. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia

The protest action comes a week after police raided a camp in Colo Valley, north of Sydney, where about 40 climate activists were found preparing for the week-long disruption.

The climate action group has been vocal about the upcoming week of disruption since March when they conducted a series of extreme stunts across the CBD to disrupt commuter traffic.

Blockade Australia will hold a press conference at 2.30pm at Redfern Park.

Originally published as Climate protesters begin week of major disruptions in Sydney CBD

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