Australian PM Rescued from Angry Group
Published at(CANBERRA, Australia) — Police rescued Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard from a crowd of angry activists on Thursday.
Gillard was literally dragged off her feet by riot police when she was confronted by about 200 protesters from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy group.
Gillard was at Canberra’s Lobby restaurant with opposition party leader Tony Abbott celebrating Australia Day at a ceremony for the National Emergency Medals when protesters surrounded the restaurant, banging on the windows and shouting “shame” and “racist.”
The embassy was celebrating its 40th anniversary on Thursday. Abbott apparently suggested in a TV interview that the camp be taken down, angering the group.
Gillard was not injured, though she lost one of her shoes in the escape.
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