Police have cautioned the Knitting Nannas Against Gas that their actions could be illegal and warned them to stop protesting.
For three years the group has met weekly outside the offices of MPs in NSW to protest against coal seam gas development in the state. The nannas say their knitting is a form of non-violent political activism to remind politicians they are being watched.
The nannas also take part in blockades of mining sites and are present at anti-CSG rallies and events. They say: "The idea of the Knitting Nannas is that of the iron fist in the soft fluffy yellow glove — there aren't many scarier things than a forthright woman in her prime."
Now there are calls for them to be moved on. At the weekly knit-in outside Lismore MP Thomas George's office on April 10, police told the nannas: "You're having an illegal protest and we've had complaints that you've been blocking the footpath", the Northern Star reported.
President of the Lismore branch of the National Party John Barnes said the nannas were a "nuisance". He told ABC: "I tried to walk through there yesterday and they had chairs against the wall and also against the gutter on the footpath, and there were people standing around in between those rows of chairs.
"Had someone been there on crutches or say in a wheelchair, they would not have been able to get through.
Instead of being intimidated the nannas said it has invigorated them and they would be back, saying: "You can't tell the nannas to go away. Oh no, bless my little acrylic socks, that just makes them dig in their heels and cast on another beanie."
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