Protest labelled an "ugly rabble" as Melbourne annual Pride March rolls on

One person has been arrested after violent protests broke out at Melbourne's annual Pride March.

Transcript

00:00 A march for diversity took a violent turn.

00:08 Police say they were forced to take action after demonstrators threw paint bombs and

00:12 blocked the path of members taking part in the march.

00:16 They may call themselves protesters but it was an ugly rebel, a group who came there

00:20 obviously with intent to confront and if not to attack police to threaten them.

00:27 One person was arrested for allegedly assaulting a spectator.

00:31 Protest by all means but not in the way we saw today.

00:35 For the majority it was a day to celebrate as thousands braved the summer heat in St

00:40 Kilda.

00:41 When we grew up we were very closeted so you couldn't be out at work, you couldn't be out

00:47 anywhere and now you see kids at school getting the support that they need and it's really

00:51 open.

00:52 As temperatures rose the shade became a refuge for those watching on.

00:57 I'm so happy to be back at Pride, I haven't been here since 2019 and my girlfriend from

01:01 Canada is here so why not?

01:05 For others trying to escape the hottest day so far this summer there weren't many options.

01:11 Sit in the shade or come to the beach.

01:13 Cabanas crowded the sand as temperatures climbed into the high 30s in Melbourne.

01:19 Plenty took to the water.

01:20 It was too much of a good thing for some needing a little help from local surf rescue.

01:26 On the surf coast not even an algal bloom at Torquay could keep people away.

01:30 We'll be wary of it but it's not going to stop us from going into the beautiful waves.

01:35 In other parts of regional Victoria people did what they could to keep cool.

01:41 With parts of the Wimmera and Mallee topping 40 degrees.

01:45 Go swimming, get outside, find something cool to do or stay inside at the air con.

01:51 Horsham ice cream shops were doing a roaring trade while others were finding refuge wherever

01:57 they could.

01:58 We're not escaping the heat, we're actually out amongst it.

02:01 There's some respite with a change coming through overnight.

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