Coronavirus: Conspiracy theorist sparks outrage after dodging checkpoint
A self-proclaimed coronavirus pandemic denier has been slammed as ‘dumb and disrespectful’ after sharing a video in which she manages to pass through a Melbourne checkpoint without answering police questions.
Eve Black, a conspiracy theorist who refers to the pandemic as a “SCAMdemic” online, has shared the video of herself on Facebook challenging an officer as he asked her reasons for travelling.
Thousands have since criticised her video online branding her behaviour “selfish”, while Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville suggested Ms Black is now likely to be fined over the stunt.
“Have I disturbed the peace today?” Ms Black asks in the video after refusing to wind down her window while reading from a sheet of questions.
“No,” the bemused-looking officer responds.
“I’m just asking what your reason for travel is.”
She then tells him she doesn’t need to tell him that information as she doesn’t know him.
Her friend’s hand enters the shot and is placed on her shoulder, offering her support during the discussion.
The officer then asks where she has come from, but again she refuses to provide an answer.
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“Have I committed a crime?” she then asks several times before the officer eventually tells her to keep going.
She thanks the officer before driving off and celebrating.
“F****** yes! Oh my god, I feel so good” she says laughing as her friend congratulates her.
In the video’s description, Ms Black explained she doesn’t believe there is a pandemic and urged people to “know your rights”.
“If no one ever told you about COVID, I wonder how many of you would actually be so scared for it?” she wrote.
“You’re being taken advantage of by a system designed to fail you.”
She said she was allowed to leave Melbourne without providing any of her details or receiving a fine.
It is unclear if Ms Black has an exemption to enter and exit metropolitan Melbourne during the current lockdown restrictions.
Ms Black was also not wearing a mask in the video which is compulsory for all Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire when in a public setting with a penalty of $200 for those that don’t comply.
Masks must be worn inside vehicles if accompanied by people not from your household.
Ms Neville told reporters on Friday the incident was an example of a “selfish person who deliberately attempted to cause issues for police, and is encouraging other people to do that".
She said Ms Black can expect a visit from officers at her home today.
Yahoo News Australia has contacted Ms Black for comment regarding the video.
Social media slams video clip as ‘selfish’
Her post sparked heated debate online garnering more than 10,000 comments, with the majority of people critical of the video.
“The people dying in hospitals who can’t have their loved ones around them or the millions out of work are grateful for your hero act,” one person wrote sarcastically.
Dozens labelled her behaviour as “selfish”, while one person said it was “dumb and disrespectful”.
“Stupidity at it finest. Selfishness personified,” one person said.
“Your arrogance is appalling. This is the behaviour has contributed to deaths of innocent, vulnerable people in Victoria,” another said.
While many condoned her actions, some praised her for her stance.
“She can do whatever she wants,” one comment read.
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