A pregnant woman who was detained in her own house for allegedly encouraging a Victoria anti-lockdown demonstration has had the charge withdrawn.
Zoe Lee Buhler, 30, was arrested for inciting in her living room in September 2020.
Two years after she became the face of Dan Andrews’ lockdown madness, prosecutors withdrew the prosecution.
Victoria Police said it was dropped in ‘the public interest’
Victoria Police has dropped the inciting charge against a 30-year-old Miners Rest woman.
‘After evaluating the case, it was judged that prosecuting was not in the public interest,’ a statement said.
Officers with a search warrant entered Ms Buhler’s home in Miners Rest, Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne, and told her her rights.
What incitement? Ms Buhler was arrested in her pyjamas with her two children.
Pregnancy ultrasound in an hour.
Just to be held responsible after all his oppression. It’d be lovely
Ms Buhler’s alleged offensive post promoted a ‘Freedom Day Ballarat’ event.
At the moment, rural Victorians were under a Stage 3 lockdown.
“Ballarat residents, join our battle for freedom and human rights!” Ms. Buhler linked to the incident.
The mother argued she wasn’t violating any rules by organising the gathering.
Police said, ‘You are, therefore we’re arresting you for inciting.’
Ms Buhler volunteered to erase the post while her boyfriend James Timmins attempted to mediate.
She might skip the event. He responded, “She just posted.”
Police said, “You’ve already committed the crime.”
Ms. Buhler was so upset and weeping that she could hardly explain cops she ‘didn’t realise’ she was ‘doing anything illegal’
Police will take all electronic devices in the residence, including Mr. Timmins’ and Ms. Buhler’s sister’s.
Ms. Buhler was charged with inciting and bailed out.
Ms Buhler, 30, slammed Mr Andrews as she left court on Monday.
‘I hope Dan Andrews has his day in court,’ she remarked.
After all his oppression, he should be held responsible for his deeds. It’d be lovely.
Victorians were confined to their houses longer than any other group on the earth, according to Ms. Buhler.
Kerri Judd, QC, will pay Ms Buhler’s legal fees for the terrible prosecution, the court heard.
Mental health burden. Ms. Buhler believes she has PTSD, particularly around police officers.
“My kids don’t understand why mommy was detained. We all want our kids to rush to police if they need help, but this has made everyone, particularly youngsters, fearful of police. ‘Get the evil guys, not the good men.’
Ms. Buhler hasn’t ruled out suing Victoria Police and the state for her treatment.
Victoria Police’s pursuit of the mother of three was ‘crazy’
They took forever. She’ll evaluate her alternatives, particularly being shackled while pregnant.
Ms. Judd’s dismissal of charges against Ms. Buhler is the latest release of a ‘lockdown rebel.’
Jemal Abazi walked free from court in July, almost two years after he was accused with urging Dandenong residents to walk together during Victoria’s second hard lockdown in August 2020.
Monica Smit’s accusations were dropped weeks ago.
The prominent anti-vaxxer spent 22 days in prison after refusing to comply with bail restrictions.
Solihin Millin’s accusations for instigating the 2020 ‘Freedom Rally’ at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance were dismissed in July.
The 78-year-old was accused of encouraging others to demonstrate.
During the six harsh lockdowns the state experienced, a militant Victoria Police penalised tens of thousands of regular Victorians.
More than 50,000 penalties were issued to Victorians for violating Covid-19 limitations, but half of those fines were not paid, according to testimony before a state budget estimates inquiry in May.
Of them, 1,723 penalties for “illegal gatherings” and over 40,000 for “general infractions” were given.
WHAT CAUSED POLICE TO ARREST MUM IN PJS
Ms. Buhler’s gathering fell on “Freedom Day,” which general anti-lockdown activists and “coronavirus conspiracy theorists” had named.
As resentment over Melbourne’s harsh Stage Four lockdowns mounted, similar gatherings began to appear all across the city.
After weekend demonstrations in Dandenong, police promised to put a stop to the demonstrations and had already detained many other organisers.
Even three police officers knocked on the house of a lady in southeast Melbourne to inform her that she may be charged with inciting.
Hours before, she had posted messages on Facebook and Instagram urging Melburnians to exercise for their allotted one hour at once.
Ms. Buhler’s “peaceful protest” even emphasised that participants adhere to rules like mask wearing and social seclusion “so we don’t get arrested.”
According to the event website, “As some of you may have seen, the government has taken drastic steps and is deploying fear tactics via the media to prevent the Melbourne demonstration.”
“In Ballarat, we can speak up against Stage Four lockdowns.” We can be seen and perhaps have an impact.
Abolish lockdowns! Uphold human rights! We are citizens of a free nation!
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius of the Victoria Police had called protesters “crazies.”
According to sources, the Andrews Government and Victoria Police are both committed to limiting the legal ramifications of the lockdowns running up to an election.
Recently, Victoria Police settled with a news photographer who was pepper sprayed twice in the face by police while covering a demonstration against lockdown in Melbourne last year for tens of thousands of pounds.
A man who was head-slammed onto the pavement at Flinders Street Station by a sergeant in September is also anticipated to reach an out-of-court settlement for more than $1 million.
According to a police informant who spoke to the Herald Sun in March, police attorneys started the bidding for the wounded man’s compensation with a $300,000 offer, as opposed to the customary $50,000 that is often mentioned at the beginning of a negotiated damages settlement.
Victims of Victoria Police’s aggressive enforcement during the epidemic may never know how much money was given to them.
Officers barraged Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance in September of last year, arming themselves to the teeth with gas grenades, pepper spray, and rubber bullets.
It wasn’t the first time that non-lethal missiles have been employed against the populace, often resulting in damage to not just human beings but also to automobiles and other property.
Prior to the Shrine protest, Melbourne Activist Legal Support voiced their objections to the use of such force.
“Victorian police officers do not have unchecked authority to use force of any kind, including force with weapons, on members of the public.” It said at the time that any use of force “must be justified, necessary, proportional to the danger encountered, and in compliance with all applicable laws.”
According to a recent Roy Morgan Snap SMS Poll, Labor will receive 59.5 percent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis, winning another term.
Angry In support, Alan Jones Lee, Zoe
a former radio king After seeing the footage of Ms. Buhler’s detention, Sky News analyst Alan Jones called for the resignation of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
After seeing the footage, which was initially published by Daily Mail Australia, he made this statement on his Facebook page.
TONIGHT, DANIEL ANDREWS SHOULD RESUME
Fortunately, I am not the only Australian who finds this revolting, repugnant, and shameful.
I believe it was in Ballarat that a pregnant mother was tied in her pyjamas in front of her children for “incitement.” She was made to cry.
The Premier of Victoria is the only offender who has engaged in inciting.
People are being forced to act in ways that are only intended to regain their freedom because of his outrageous attempt to seize power and his contempt for any kind of responsibility.
This lady is a victim of the heinous powers that the Victorian police have been granted.
Everyone anticipated that this would happen. People can only be pushed so far.
Where is the violence in this, my friend? No Australian will accept the kind of brutality against a pregnant woman.
Daniel Andrews, get out of here before further harm is done.