This morning in Sale Victoria the “Gippsland free store” was again shut down  after  complaint by a bank branch.

Victoria police scrambled to the bank where a free shop activist was alleged to have been writing on the footpath with chalk and handing out political campaign flyers.

“Screw the banks “

and

“Free Bradley Manning”

The free store activist was then taken to a police station and locked in a room, he was eventually charged with

“Writing on a structure”

The activist has stated he did not write on anything vertical and it was an unlawful arrest.

Writing political messages on the footpath with chalk is not destructive in anyway, it is not illegal and has always been  a valid form of political expression.  Australia’s behavior in relation to treatment of political activists and human rights in general has sent alarm bells ringing among civil liberties groups globally this federal election year.

Being able to express your political opinion is more important than ever before, even with social networking gimmicks such as facebook it is getting harder counter the dominance of the global media machine and corrupted governments.

Regardless of our ideals, its a human right to express them even with chalk on a footpath.

The first Gippsland free store:

https://occupymelbourne.net/2013/05/15/gippsland-free-shop-shut-down-by-bankers-and-local-authorities/

More info at Gippsland free store.

https://www.facebook.com/GippslandFreeStore