
Protesters were emotional at a National Day of Action for refugees outside a detention centre in Kangaroo Point yesterday.
They gathered in solidarity with 120 refugees and asylum seekers detained inside Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, who have been protesting their conditions from the hotel balcony for months.
Activists and detainees addressed the crowd through a PA system set up on Main Street.
Tension arose with police when protesters on the street demanded a detainee be allowed to hug his three-year-old son, whom he had never touched. Organisers called on protesters to de-escalate as they negotiated with police. Ultimately the hug was not allowed.
Police forcibly cleared the street at 5pm, threatening to detain anyone who blocked the road.
Some activists remain at the site, blockading the detention centre to prevent detainees from being removed to BITA, a higher-security facility.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Charlie, Dan and Ethan (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Yuchen (Image via Flickr)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Charlie, Dan and Ethan (Image via Flickr)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Eden, Em, Vivek, and Alec

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec, Eden, and Em

Your 11AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey

Your 8AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie.
Image Credit: NASA

Your 11AM Zedlines with Livinia and Mack

Your 10AM Zedlines with Livinia and Mack

Your 10am Zedlines with Stella, Eden, Sarah and Vivek.

Your 9am Zedlines with Eden, Vivek and Sarah.

Your 8am Zedlines with Stella, Sarah and Vivek.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie.

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.
Image Credit: youngestchild, Flickr

Your 8AM Zedlines with Hailey, Cass, Lachlan and Georgie.
Image credit: Kai Stachowiak

Your 11AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 10AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia, Mack and Clementine

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia
IMG: From Wikimedia Under CC3.0

Your 11AM Zedlines with Miko, Niamh and Sarah
Image via Wage Peace

Your 10am Zedlines with Miko, Niamh & Sarah. (IMG: Via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Sarah, Niamh & Miko. (Image via Ben Pennings)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Charlie and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your (messy) 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Dan (Images via Wikimedia Commons)