Kerri-Anne Kennerley Reckons Extinction Rebellion Protesters Should Be Used As Speed Bumps
KAK's at it again.
As climate change threatens to destroy the planet and ordinary citizens get more and more desperate for a real solution, it’s important to have a calm, rational discussion about the most effective ways to prevent the oncoming catastrophe. Step forward Kerri-Anne Kennerley!
The always rational Kerri-Anne was speaking on Studio 10 this morning, when she suggested that extinction rebellion protests that are currently disrupting services across the country should be dealt with by simply running the protesters over, or locking them up in jail and leaving them to die. Cool!
If you’re not familiar, the extinction rebellion protests have been held around the world over the last few days, and are deliberately designed to be more disruptive than previous climate change protests such as last month’s climate strikes.
Protesters are gluing themselves to roads, chaining themselves to buildings and crowding busy intersections in the hope that their more extreme measures will draw attention to the global climate emergency. Protesters have been criticised by some people for blocking emergency services from using roads, although video shot in Melbourne over the weekend shows protesters moving out of the way to let an ambulance through.
Extinction Rebellion protesters letting an ambulance pass in Melbourne. #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/JPnNdce3o3
— The Hand That Bites (@handthatbitesuk) October 7, 2019
In Australia, dozens of people have been arrested for blocking roads, and one man was arrested after he suspended himself from Brisbane’s Story Bridge — and that’s where Kerri-Anne comes in.
Following a story on Studio 10 about the arrests this morning, KAK went in on the protesters.
“Personally, I would leave them all super glued to wherever they do it,” she said, according to TV transcription service TVeeder.
“The guy hanging from the Story Bridge. Why send emergency services? Leave him there until he gets himself out. No emergency services should help them, nobody should do anything, and you just put little witches hats around them, or use them as a speedbump,” she said, before appearing to realise she may have gone too far.
“Oh, we’re going to get into trouble! Is that wrong?”, KAK asked before doubling down. “Put them in jail, forget to feed them!”
Nice.
The panel then devolved into the usual talking points about how Australia can’t actually do anything to solve climate change, because we’re so small. This is the same argument dozens of countries use, and is exactly why protesters are calling to co-ordinated global action.
Update: Channel 10 Responds To Kerri-Anne Anger
Following widespread anger on social media, Channel 10 this afternoon released a statement attempting to clarify Kerri-Anne’s comments:
“This morning on Studio 10 Kerri-Anne Kennerley made comments regarding climate protesters that were said in jest.
“Before the show concluded, Sarah Harris reiterated the tone of her remarks, affirming that Kerri-Anne wasn’t inciting violence.
“Kerri-Anne confirmed that she was indeed speaking in hyperbole and her words were clearly a joke. There was no intent to cause offence.
Over the past few days, Studio 10 has extensively addressed a range of opinions on this subject.”