Police have charged 40 people, including two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old, following a protest in the CBD yesterday.
It is understood three vehicles were used to block the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets, with a number of people chaining themselves to the vehicles.
The protesters were arrested and interviewed by police and have been charged with a total of 122 offences between them.
Of those arrested, 38 people were charged with obstruct emergency worker (indictable), obstruct road, and pedestrian obstruct path of driver.
One person was charged with obstruct emergency worker (indictable), obstruct road, pedestrian obstruct path of driver and possess drug of dependence.
Another was arrested at the aquarium and charged with assault police (indictable) as well as obstruct emergency worker (indictable), obstruct road, and pedestrian obstruct path of driver.
All adults were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 5 June.
The children were bailed to appear at a children’s court on 6 June.
The indictable offence, obstruct an emergency worker on duty, carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
