Australians across major cities on Saturday voiced their dissent against draconian government COVID-19 measures, with thousands of protesters in the cities of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, taking to the streets in “Freedom Rally” demonstrations. But heavy police presence, mainly in Melbourne and Sydney, resulted in some violent clashes and multiple arrests. In Victoria state’s capital, Melbourne, some 1,000 protesters gathered in various groups in the suburb of Richmond around midday, after the location was changed last minute to evade police. Over about two hours, the groups proceeded to the suburb of Hawthorn via residential streets, while demanding an end to government vaccine mandates, as well as weeks of draconian lockdowns and restrictions. The city had entered its sixth lockdown on Aug. 5. Crowds chanted “no more lockdown” and “sack Dan Andrews,” referring to the state’s premier, while facing a line of police officers at the intersection of Church Street and Bridge …