Inspired by the global call for action by the Indignados movement in Spain, the protests and revolutions across the Arab World and the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City, Occupy Melbourne and Occupy Sydney was launched by many hundreds of activists in October 2011. Occupy sought to transform the centre of major cities into a ‘common’ space of political demonstration where people could learn, discuss, highlight and disrupt abuses of political and corporate power.  The policing of the Occupy movement in Australia and around the world set a template that is faced by movements today.

In this panel organised by Melbourne Activist Legal Support,activists and advocates from Melbourne and Sydney will draw out and explore lessons for activists today including the challenges of holding public space, anticipating the level of repression and the legal and human rights support structures set up during and after the occupation itself.

On the panel is: Megan Fitzgerald from Fitzroy Legal Service, Larissa Payne from Occupy Sydney and XR Sydney Erin Buckley from Occupy Melbourne Legal Support (OMLS) and Anthony Kelly from MALS.