Top cop slams 'disgusting' behaviour by protesters at Melbourne Pride March
The actions of protesters who confronted police as they marched at Melbourne's annual Pride March have been labelled "disgusting" by Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.
About 100 Victoria Police members, including some with their children, were pelted with paint bombs and abused while participating in the Midsumma Pride festival yesterday in the beachside suburb of St Kilda.
"It was very confrontational. We are just disappointed that this group, this ugly rabble, took the opportunity to confront police," Patton told Today.
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About 100 police were pelted with paint bombs and abused at the Midsumma Pride festival. 9News
Victoria Police said they were "confronted" by up to 50 protesters soon after the march started. Nine
The chief commissioner said protestors continued to abuse police officers, despite some trying to walk away.
"(They) confronted police through paint bombs and abused us, but disrupted what should have been an event about pride, about inclusion (and) diversity," Patton said.
"One of them was heard to say, 'Effing, shoot them'. I don't think that was going to occur, but that's the type of vitriol we were exposed to.
The protest unfolded at the festival yesterday in the beachside suburb of St Kilda. 9News
One man was arrested at the protest. 9News
"It was absolutely disgusting."
Victoria Police have participated in the march for the past 22 years, with Patton adding it's usually a proud time for members.
"Our members were visibly upset afterward. I know that many of our members were visibly upset - those carrying little kids. It should not have happened," he said.
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Victoria's police commissioner labelled the protest 'disgusting'. 9News
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said yesterday's incident was "distressing".
"Make it very clear that if you assault and attack police there'll be consequences," he told media today.
"No one accepts it, there are no excuses for it. It doesn't demonstrate respect and it's to be condemned.
"I'll leave the investigations to Victoria Police, but nobody gets to parade their views whatever they may be off the back of assaulting people and attacking people."
A 34-year-old man was arrested overnight following the incident and was released pending further investigation.
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