—

An attempt by failed NSW Christian Democrat candidate Peter Madden to hold a Queensland Election Prayer Rally featuring the now infamous ‘hate truck’ has backfired in Brisbane overnight.

Approximately 500 pro-marriage equality protesters flooded King George Square in the Brisbane CBD from late afternoon, forcing the 12 attendees of the prayer rally to retreat to an upper balcony area under police guard.

The hate truck made a brief appearance early in the evening but was forced to depart the square after hundreds of protesters ran towards the vehicle seeking to tear down its signage.

Police hurried to protect the truck from the angry crowd and quickly advised the driver to vacate the area.

One protester was arrested when she attempted to block the truck’s way.

After it appeared that no one was attending the prayer rally, protesters discovered Madden and a few supporters on an elevated area overlooking the square, guarded by 14 police.

In a surreal scene, Madden began playing guitar while his supporters prayed for the ousting of the Labor Party over their civil union legislation. Protesters surrounded the area yelling chants of “Go home, bigot. Go home!” and sounded sirens.

Lismore locals who’d staged a protest last weekend blockading the hate truck and painting slogans featuring the words ‘equal love’ and ‘love not hate’ over its signage, were also present and spoke at the Brisbane rally, which was coordinated by local LGBT activists in response to Stand4Marriage’s anti-gay truck tour.

The religious group claimed the tour, which was due to culminate in the prayer rally, was vital to “pray that God will have His way in Queensland in this election against the wickedness proposed by Anna Bligh and others, (who have pushed hard for the evil agenda of homosexual marriage in Queensland, clearly aimed at Australian children and families)”.