AUSTRALIAN police arrested a pregnant woman on Wednesday for publishing a post on her Facebook that promoted a coronavirus anti-lockdown protest. Zoe Buhler was charged with incitement, and her computer and phone were seized by police. Here is more on the bizarre arrest. Who is the Australian woman and why did she get arrested? Zoe […]
AUSTRALIAN police arrested a pregnant woman on Wednesday for publishing a post on her Facebook that promoted a coronavirus anti-lockdown protest.
Zoe Buhler was charged with incitement, and her computer and phone were seized by police.
Here is more on the bizarre arrest.
Zoe Buhler, 28, was arrested at her home in Miners Rest near Ballarat, Victoria, on Wednesday after she created a “freedom day” event on Facebook.
The event called for people to protest against the Victorian government’s coronavirus lockdown measures.
Her partner recorded the interaction as police were handcuffing her and shared the video on Facebook.
It has made the rounds on social media with nearly two million views.
The video shows a group of officers handcuffing Buhler in front of her partner and children.
In the video, Buhler becomes distressed as she tells officers she is pregnant.
“I have no idea why you guys are doing this,” she tells officers in the video.
“My two kids are here. I have an ultrasound in an hour. I’m happy to delete the post.
“I don’t really understand what I’ve done wrong. This is ridiculous. I didn’t realize I was doing anything wrong.”
Detective Adrian Smith, who was in charge of the arrest, told Buhler why he was arresting her, explaining that it had to do with the Facebook post.
“It’s in relation to a Facebook post, in relation to a lockdown protest you put on just that day,” Detective Smith said.
Buhler reiterates to the officer that she did not think she was doing anything illegal.
“I wasn’t breaking any laws by doing that,” Buhler mentioned.
“You are actually. You are breaking the law,” Detective Smith responded.
“That’s why I’m arresting you.”
The description of the event, which has since been deleted read: “As some of you may have seen the government has gone to extreme measures and are using scare tactics through the media to prevent the Melbourne protest.
“Here in Ballarat we can be a voice for those in stage four lockdowns. We can be seen and heard and hopefully make a difference!”
Buhler is the fourth person to be arrested and charged with incitement in Victoria in the past few days.
On Facebook, the Liberal party backbench MP Craig Kelly shared the video, saying it was “what you’d expect to see in Nazi Germany.”
“Every politician that voted for laws that allows a pregnant mother to be handcuffed for a Facebook post (that criticizes government policy) stands condemned for eternity,” he wrote.
In a statement, Victoria police defended the arrest by saying: “any gathering of this nature is in blatant breach of the chief health officer’s directions and puts Victorian lives at risk.”
“Victoria police has already taken action as part of an ongoing investigation into the planning and encouragement of protest activity in Ballarat,” police said in a statement.
“Those still thinking of attending the protest in Ballarat on Saturday can expect a swift and firm response from police.”
