"To get the government to declare a climate emergency, the most powerful tactic is to go to a large city and shut it down for as long as possible. "We are risking human extinction." Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Ms Morton said the plan was to occupy the bridge at midday for as long as they could before police arrested them. She was among the last arrested before the bridge reopened at 3pm. The protest was loud, colourful and carefully non-violent. Protesters, some of them children, beat drums, waved flags, and danced in the middle of the road.

Being Melbourne, they weren't alone. Sailors in crisp uniforms held a parade on the bridge an hour before the protest, before marching into the city to the tune of a naval band – a celebration of a warship about to be decommissioned. A bagpiper on one end of the bridge played loudly, while on the other end a man who called himself a 'gospel singer' sang about burning in hell. He told The Age the climate crisis protesters were "a set-up for a one-world government". The protest was loud, colourful and carefully non-violent. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui "There seems to be a lot of different things being protested. Climate change, insects, Adani, non-violence," said Julie Stephens, on holiday here from NSW. "And the red things, I don't know what those are." Ms Stephens was referring to about 12 people – known as 'Red Rebels' wearing red wedding dresses and white face paint, who played a silent role in the protest, standing on the road with their fists raised.

Police gave the protest about an hour before moving in. "I require you to cease occupying this road," an officer yelled into a microphone. "Reasonable force may be used if you do not comply." The Extinction Rebellion protest shut down Princes Bridge between midday and 3pm on Saturday. Credit:Paul Jeffers Officers then removed the protesters one-by-one. Many were happy to walk away with police, while others chose to lie down and play dead, forcing officers to carry them. One man appeared to resist and was cuffed, but was quickly released. It took about two hours before everyone who wanted to be arrested was, whereupon the remainder of the crowd filed off the bridge.

Police arrested 36 people who are expected to be charged on summons with obstructing a roadway. It is the second Melbourne climate rally in the lead-up to what the group is calling the international 'Spring Uprising' on October 7, when protests are planned around the globe. Protesters shut down Princes Bridge for three hours on Saturday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Last Friday, police prepared for up to 10,000 protesters in the Melbourne CBD, but only about 300 demonstrators gathered at the State Library of Victoria at 5pm, before dispersing into neighbouring blocks and disrupting traffic on Elizabeth and Flinders streets. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were aware of the protest and they would "apply appropriate resources to ensure the safety of all involved, regardless of the issue at hand".