*Trigger Warning* Mother arrested during protest in Sydney and child removed by polic

[Mod-LIKE A BOSS]

News reports that a mother was protesting against the Covid-19 lockdowns in Sydney, with her young child with her when she was arrested by police.

Her child is crying and screaming. She is arrested for failing to move on when directed and failing to provide her details. Her son is taken by police.

I found this footage and the story really confronting. A huge mix of emotions. Including anger. I’m just not sure where I’m directing my anger to.

*Note that there are several versions of events on the web. Some in support of police, others claiming that police were heavy handed*

It got me thinking about whether kids belong at protests? Does it depend on the protest? The level of risk?

I’ve seen kids at plenty of protests in my younger days. I’ve always wondered whether they understand what they’re doing there. Is it educational?

Does it change your view if participating in the protest is against the law (such as breaching social distancing laws currently) rather than a peaceful protest (like this seemed to be) during non social distancing conditions? Or is that the point of protesting? Standing up for what you believe in regardless of the law?

What are your thoughts?

*Edit due to sentence not making sense*

https://amp.news.com.au/national/nsw...0cc5288bddc088

[Mum-I-Am]

I think as a parent your involvement in a protest or rally should be about you. Go ahead and protest but don’t put your kid at risk or expose them to anything (illness, violence, legal issues).

If you decide to take your child with you then you must behave in a way that protects them. Reports state that she refused to move on or engage with police. This means she is putting her child in the position where he is taken and she is arrested. All good if you are alone but you can’t expose your kid to that.

[Chippa]

I fully agree with Mum I Am. Fair enough you can exercise your democratic right to protest anything you feel the need to, but don’t drag children into that situation. That poor little boy had no choice in being there and I feel awful for him.

From what I’ve seen the mother could have avoided the whole situation by cooperating with the police and identifying herself.

[Janesmum123]

All the cops wanted was to get her details so they could dish out more revenue raising fines. They should have just gone to Westfield’s today they would have made a fortune there is zero social distancing in shopping centres.
She is a bit of an idiot for taking her son with her, it’s really irresponsible.
I hate it when parents get their kids involved in their political movement campaigns. She literally traumatised her child.
As for the cops... just another power trip as usual. Nothing new, they arrested a bunch of protesters in Victoria over the weekend. At least they have moved on from intimidating swimmers and breastfeeding mothers on park benches so I guess that’s a step up. Also they have stopped driving around our local park scaring kids on scooters so another win for them.

[babyno1onboard]

All the cops wanted was to get her details so they could dish out more revenue raising fines. They should have just gone to Westfield’s today they would have made a fortune there is zero social distancing in shopping centres.
She is a bit of an idiot for taking her son with her, it’s really irresponsible.
I hate it when parents get their kids involved in their political movement campaigns. She literally traumatised her child.
As for the cops... just another power trip as usual. Nothing new, they arrested a punch of protested the in Victoria over the weekend. At least they have moved on from intimidating swimmers and breastfeeding mothers on park benches so I guess that’s a step up. Also they have stopped driving around our local park scaring kids on scooters so another win for them.

They are enforcing the law, which is their job, and excepted of them by society.

[Janesmum123]

They are enforcing the law, which is their job, and excepted of them by society.

Yes but I still believe it’s been taken too far in some instances.

[stacey10]

She was not doing anything wrong, as I understand it she was walking with her son, with a sign on her, back to her car when they surrounded her, she did not have to provide her name, she had done nothing wrong, they then got heavy handed with her and she was asking them what she had done wrong, they wouldn’t give her an answer, they ripped him from her, then took them both to the police station and then they also questioned a 4 yr old boy without consent, and without any parent present. Many years ago women went to protests with their babies in prams for the suffragette movement and were treated like hero’s. My daughter is in the police force and I would be absolutely horrified if she would ever be any part of something like this.

[stacey10]

Photo included

[MissTwiggley]

I could not finish watching the video. Seeing children absolutely distressed and helpless is heartbreaking.

If it were me, I would refrain from taking my child. Their safety is my utmost priority.

Police have a job to do, but they also need to exercise common sense. What harm was she actually doing? Let's not hide under a black and white banner here of 'Follow the rules and you won't get in trouble'. If it weren't for outliers, society would never have progressed the way it has. She's not making history or doing anything groundbreaking, but I still support the right to protest peacefully.

100% of me believes she is being a little silly by protesting something that is for her own safety, but I also believe the reaction from the police force does not align with the offense in any shape, way or form. Save the heavy handed tactics for real criminals, not mothers with toddlers.

[Mod-DJ Nette]

The Magna Carta? What that has to do with any modern protest I have no idea.

No I wouldn’t take my child to a protest, especially one that wasn’t ‘approved’.

That being said, the VIC police are well know for being heavy handed, and their reaction to Covid fines has certainly been much more extreme then other states.