RSL Victoria has condemned scenes at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance today as “disgraceful”, with hundreds of protestors swarming the sacred site as part of what appears to be an anti-vaccination protest.
In a statement, the state’s peak veterans body said the Shrine of Remembrance was not a place for protest.
“It is RSL Victoria’s position that Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance is a sacred place, of critical importance to the current and ex-service members of our community, for commemorating service and for the remembrance of those who have died performing their patriotic duty.”
“Under no circumstances, ever, should the Shrine be a place of protest.”
“If any individuals or groups choose to express their political views, positions or ideological theories in the grounds of the Shrine at any time, they are completely disrespecting the sanctity of this time honoured space, those men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have lost their lives, and all Victorian veterans.”
The protestors are currently in a stand off with Police, who have brought in riot police, mounted police and hundreds of general duties officers to form a ring around the Shrine.
The Chair of the Shrine of Remembrance, Captain Stephen Bowater, has also condemned today’s scene.
“The Shrine of Remembrance is sacred. It is not a place of protest,” he said.
“The Shrine exists to honour the service and sacrifice of all those who served our nation in war and peacekeeping. It is a sacred place, of critical importance to the current and ex-service members of our community, for commemorating service and for the remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Any protest on its grounds is disgraceful and disrespectful to the honoured memory of Australian service men and women.”
