Between November 16 and 21, 2021 a video has been circulating on social media, showing a man being pushed from his wheelchair by police officers. This video appeared under, among other hashtags, #AustraliaHasFallen in a protest in #Melbourne, #Australia against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.
Background
A counter-protest organized on November 20, 2021, by the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism was held as part of the international day of protest against COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
Verification
Reverse image searches reveal that this video was taken during a Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles, as cops clashed with demonstrators. From this post on Reddit, this video was shared as early as July 15, 2020.
An advanced Google search identifies the man being toppled-off a wheelchair as Joshua Wilson, in this article by The Sun.
Further, in a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department stated that the man in a wheelchair, Joshua Wilson, punched a police officer in the face during the protest. It further added that Wilson who is a suspected felon was later taken into custody and a loaded gun found in his possession.
In a video statement published on Youtube, LAPD released a body camera stating that this was not a lethal use of force and that nobody was hospitalised during the July14, 2020 protests.
Verdict
NO, this video does not show police in Australia pushing a man off his wheelchair during protests against COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
This story was produced by Africa Uncensored in partnership with Code for Africa with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie.
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