Exctinction Rebellion climate change protestors spark traffic chaos in Melbourne
protesters have caused traffic chaos in 's CBD after blocking a busy intersection during the first day of a week-long rally designed to cause 'mass disruptions'. Extinction Rebellion activists demonstrated out State Parliament on Monday morning, lying across roads and tram lines out of the front of the government building. The protesters were pretending to be 'dead' covered by white blankets as they call for action from policy makers on the worsening climate crisis. The individuals lying on the ground have labels attached to their feet suggesting they died of a 'climate crisis death'. Others have been standing on the steps of the building bizarrely dressed in red outfits with white painted faces. More than 2,000 police officers have been dispatched to handle the growing situation. Extinction Rebellion have vowed to be unrelenting in their demonstrations with events planned throughout the week as they call upon the government to make sweeping changes in regards to climate change. Carlton Gardens is another target area, with protesters saying they will camp out the area to bring further exposure to the cause. More than 100 members of the group have been in attendance outside State Parliament on Monday with varying levels of protest including holding signs, laying 'dead' on the road and walking around the area wearing bizarre costumes. The resulting traffic impact has seen several bus and tram routes disrupted and re-routed. Police officers are also standing by and Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius says they won't hesitate to make arrests. 'We've rostered just under 2000 over the course of this week to ensure public safety over the course of these events. That's 2000 members who would otherwise be out in local police stations keeping the community safe,' he told 3AW Radio. 'Policing such a significant and disruptive protest over such an extended period of time has a huge impact on community safety. 'We will issue a direction for them to cease their obstruction and if they don't comply we will move in to arrest people.' Assistant Commission Cornelius also said they would not permit the use of Carlton Gardens as a campground for the Extinction Rebellion protesters. 'They will not permit camping in the Carlton Gardens,' he said. 'If camping occurs, we will support the City of Melbourne to have those camping sites taken down.'