A security guard armed with nothing more than his words has taken on a group of alleged ‘cookers’ protesting outside a Barack Obama speaking event.
The ‘cookers’ – so-called because they supposedly spend their time cooking up conspiracy theories – were filming staff working on the event as they arrived at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Wednesday evening.
In a video of the clash, the protestors told the security officers they were ‘independent media’ who were broadcasting ‘all around the world, instantly.’
One of them demanded to know who the security guard was and why he was daring to question their presence – before he told them: ‘Negative, mate – this is where we draw the line.’
A security guard (pictured) armed with nothing more than his words has taken on a group of ‘cookers’ protesting outside a Barack Obama speaking event
A female colleague of the security guard told the protestors outside the event from off camera that ‘I give you no right to film that.’
‘What about all the cameras everywhere else that film 24 hours a day, seven days a week,’ was the response.
When the security officer asked why they were there, one said ‘We’ve come down to have a look’, and another said they were ‘reporting’.
‘You’ve got documentation to show this?’ he asked.
‘Oh no, excuse me, we don’t need documentation,’ a woman said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
‘No, you do, because I’m asking you what you’re doing and you’re telling me you’re reporting,’ the man replied.
He may have been overstepping the mark in that the protestors did not seem intend to cause any trouble.
Nevertheless, he stated his responsibility clearly, saying ‘I actually look after security here.’
The protestors (pictured) told the security officers they were ‘independent media’ who were broadcasting ‘All around the world, instantly’
A second security guard came down to the protestors, this time accompanied by six Melbourne police officers (pictured)
The protestors asked if they were being considered a threat.
‘You’re not a threat as of yet, but I need to ascertain what you’re doing here. Can I ask what you’re doing here?’
One of them replied that they were there to film ‘the President of America’.
A protestor told the man that ‘You approached us. You actually approached these ladies and I wanted to double check…’
The security officer interrupted to say ‘You’re being incredibly invasive in recording staff down there who’ve given no consent to be recorded either.’
They disagreed with his assessment of the situation, and he came seemed to be losing his patience with them.
‘No, negative mate. When you’re coming down recording … staff that don’t wish to be recorded, that’s when we draw the line.’
One of the protestors said they were on ‘public’ property and so could film what they wanted.
‘No, excuse me. The venue is private property … So you’re recording staff entering private property,’ he said.
Later, a second security guard came down to the protestors, this time accompanied by six Melbourne police officers.
The armed officers gave him an air of authority and immediacy the first security officer did not possess.
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‘You’re filming me. We’ve just come down to have a bit of a chat,’ he said.
‘We do respect your right to protest, but you are on Melbourne Olympic Park land.
A second security officer (centre) said ‘We do respect your right to protest, but you are on Melbourne Olympic Park land’
‘And if at a major event if you become obstructive or you block any of our entrances, we’ll ask you to move on down to the side of the road.’
The latest drama to emerge from the multi-million dollar Obama speaking tour came as the organisers apologised to an Aboriginal elder who was dropped from the Melbourne event.
On Thursday, organisers said they had been working with dropped speaker Aunty Joy Murphy and the Wurundjeri community for many weeks before the event.
‘Due to security requirements, the organisation was unable to accommodate last minute changes to the agreed upon ceremony,’ the organisation said in a statement.
‘Growth Faculty has apologised to Aunty Joy that last night’s ceremony could not be changed.’
Ms Murphy had initially been booked to give a Welcome to Country for the event, but was told she couldn’t bring a support person with her and that she was ‘too difficult’ before being removed from proceedings, her representatives said.
The organisers said that Ms Murphy had accepted an invitation to perform a Welcome to Country at a business lunch in Melbourne on Thursday.
Commenters under the Twitter posts of the videos were not impressed by the protestors.
The security costs for Mr Obama’s (pictured) million dollar two day speaking tour of Australia have proved controversial
‘More of our “hard done in life people” looking for reasons to blame for their situation and point the finger at someone, anyone,’ wrote one.
‘A livestream isn’t complete without a confrontation,’ said another.
‘They’re Cookers – their job is to protest for the silliest possible reason’s, what else can be said,’ a third commenter wrote.
The security costs for Mr Obama’s million dollar two day speaking tour of Australia have proved controversial, with radio host Ray Hadley asking why taxpayers have to foot the bill for NSW, Victoria and Federal police officers.
