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Police condemn 'unlawful' climate protest that halted Newcastle coal train
Police have condemned “unlawful protest activity” and taken action against 50 activists over an anti-coal protest in Newcastle this morning.
Newcastle City Police District Commander Supt Kylie Endemi told reporters on Sunday that 47 activists had been issued with court attendance notices and another three had been charged, two for alleged malicious damage and one for allegedly assaulting a security guard.
Dozens of activists stood beside the rail track in the suburb of Sandgate on Sunday morning, stopping a coal train and boarding it with a banner that read: “Survival guide for humanity: no new coal.”
Endemi said police had been dealing with one of the protest organisers in the lead-up to Sunday morning. But she said the organiser had failed to provide proper detail about the action, rendering it unlawful.
She said 50 people entered the rail corridor on Sunday morning. Two activists were charged with malicious damage for allegedly damaging an entry gate.
While we support everyone’s right to free speech, we certainly don’t tolerate any violence or the conduct of any unlawful activity.
She said the protesters had been “by and large peaceful” and compliant with police requests.
However, we have had one person charged with assault on a security guard and two others charged with malicious damage.
Police deployed marine area command and its air wing to respond to the protest.
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