You may have heard through the mainstream media about the police raid on the Blockade Australia property in the Colo River Valley, North West of Sydney, last weekend. Here are accounts from activists who were present at the time, which are significantly different from the account that has been fed to the press.

Account 1

At 8.30 am on 19 June 2022, climate activists in the Colo Valley became aware of two people in full camouflage gear hiding in the bush above a camp occupied by Blockade Australia climate activists. We approached the two people, who were armed and masked, and spoke to them. The camouflaged people did not respond to our questions but remained stationary and silent. There were no police markings on their camouflage gear. They did not identify themselves as police. When they did not speak or move, a climate activist tapped one of the camouflaged people on the shoulder and asked if they were okay. The person was heard to say, 'We’ve been compromised.'

The two armed, camouflaged people found hiding above our campsite did not speak to or identify themselves to us or offer any sign to indicate that they were police officers. At 9 am a large black car sped down the private driveway to our campsite. The two camouflaged people ran towards it. They grabbed and pushed several climate activists before jumping into the vehicle. The vehicle contained two men carrying guns, wearing black tops and jeans. The vehicle and its occupants had no police markings. We asked the persons to identify themselves but none of the four occupants spoke with us. The vehicle then accelerated and sped towards people standing on the road. Two people were struck by the car and injured.

At no point did any of the climate activists harm or threaten to harm the camouflaged intruders or occupants of the vehicle. It is possible that the unmarked car was dented when it smashed into our bodies however we cannot verify this. The police claim made on 19 June 2022 that officers experienced fear or felt threatened is disingenuous. We were not the ones with the guns.

By 11 am a massive police search and seizure operation was underway. Seven climate activists were arrested and were held overnight. Forty more activists including children, people with disabilities and elderly people were surrounded by police and detained for over four hours in a cold, wet field. Police breached multiple protocols in their interactions with us, denying virtually every civil liberty. One police officer urinated in front of a fourteen-year-old girl.

Every person and vehicle was searched. Police seized phones and other communications devices. Around forty climate activists were forced to leave the campsite, many with no bedding, warm clothes or communications equipment. Police remain on site at the property and are still refusing access, even to the property owner.

We reiterate: no crimes had been committed. All of the campers are climate activists who are part of a Blockade Australia network, dedicated to protecting Earth’s life support systems. No person has ever been harmed during a Blockade Australia action. We have not and will never harm any person.

By nightfall, seven people were in custody and around forty people were stranded in the Blue Mountains with no bedding or warm clothing. Several people who had fled into the bush when they saw the armed intruders were unaccounted for. With temperatures rapidly dropping and no communications, we were very worried.

By 9 pm, one person was still missing. The NSW police refused to activate the SES to search for our friend. The police threatened to arrest locals and activists engaged in searching for our missing friend. A public call-out on our Facebook channel garnered much support, with numerous people calling the SES, NSW Police and even the Premier. We were fearful for our friend’s life. The NSW Police stubbornly refused to activate the SES to locate our friend.

At 5.30 am our friend was located, by us. They are safe and well. We would like to thank Blue Mountains locals and our broader network who have offered their care and practical support over the past twenty-four hours.

We will not be intimidated by the militarised police who squash dissent to the system that fuels the climate crisis. We will not cave to fear tactics.

The resistance to the economic and political system of Australia is growing stronger each day. Watch this space.

Account 2

A massive police raid took place at a New South Wales property where climate activists connected with Blockade Australia were camped. Around one hundred police including a dog squad, PORT squad with body armour and full-face helmets, cammo squads, helicopters, CIB plus ordinary uniformed police surrounded the bush property and commenced search and seizure procedures. It is unclear what the legal basis was for the raid. Direct actions taken by climate activists in the past have included blocking coal ports, bridges and fossil fuel terminals. No harm to other people has ever occurred during these climate protests. This is insane police overreach. No crimes have been committed by the climate activists at the camp. We are ordinary people trying to protect Earth's life support systems. This level of police repression of the climate movement is unprecedented. We are now suffering multiple impacts of Australia's continued climate destruction with unprecedented fires, floods, and repression'.

Visit Blockade Australia's Facebook page for more information on the police raid and for their coming actions. To support the group financially and to contribute to the Blockade Australia legal funds see their Chuffed page.

With love and rage,

XR Sydney Newsletter team

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Blockade Australia

Monday 27 June – Saturday 2 July

The systems and institutions of Australia are driving climate collapse. Meaningful climate action must materially challenge Australia’s operations.

Come together on 27 June to resist climate destruction through the mass disruption of the Sydney CBD for Day One of our upcoming mobilisation.

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