Anti-war protestors have taken to the streets of Melbourne for a second day, to oppose a defence and weapons expo. It was a more peaceful show, after yesterday's fiery and violent clashes with police. The Victorian government is backing officers after accusations of excessive force, and says it is looking at strengthening police powers.
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00:00One, two, three, four, we don't want your body war.
00:06The protesters were back and security was heightened.
00:10Blockades fencing off the conference were expanded after yesterday's violent clashes.
00:15We are their people.
00:17We won't be silent.
00:19Protesters took to marching through nearby streets, halting traffic and diverting trams
00:24in the morning rush hour.
00:25And I'm running leg forward.
00:27I'm happy with it.
00:29This is part of protest culture, it's a disrupt and we are sending a message to ourselves,
00:33to the government and to the people that are oppressed and watching us overseas.
00:38The day remained peaceful, despite the concerns from one member of the public.
00:42You're wasting everyone's time.
00:45These poor cops.
00:46No justice, no peace.
00:47No racist police.
00:48There are fewer protesters out today than what we saw yesterday, but they are still
00:54making their message heard by occupying streets and chanting currently here just outside the
01:00centre where the conference is underway.
01:05Police were on the offensive today, repeatedly going into the protests to search people.
01:10I'm currently being searched for weapons in my bag.
01:13The real weapons are in the convention centre.
01:17These special powers to search and to ask people to remove face coverings could be expanded.
01:23While that applies to designated areas, we have said that we will be looking at whether
01:26we can go to those designated areas more regularly, more often and for longer.
01:32Police need greater powers.
01:34The Greens are leading calls for an independent inquiry into accusations of excessive force
01:40by officers yesterday, but they've found little support.
01:44We are absolutely confident in the work that Victoria Police members did yesterday and
01:49do every day.
01:5042 people were arrested yesterday and five today.
01:55Inside the Biennial Weapons Expo has continued unabated with hundreds of companies from around
02:01the world showcasing the latest in defence tech.
02:05We've had great cooperation with the Victorian government and the police and certainly will
02:10be having it here again in two years.
02:15Protesters turned their attention to a different target in the afternoon, picketing a defence
02:19company that partners with an Israel-based military technology company.
02:24Protests are expected to continue tomorrow on the final day of the expo.