Summary
- Thousands are expected at protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart on Saturday to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and call for an end to Aboriginal deaths in custody.
- NSW's Supreme Court has banned the Sydney protest because it breaches coronavirus restrictions, but it is unlikely to stop marchers, including the mother of David Dungay Jr who died in Long Bay prison.
- Organisers are encouraging protesters to wear face masks, adhere to social distancing and use hand sanitiser.
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Health Officer Brendan Murphy have urged protesters to find another way to express their views without putting their health and that of others at risk during the coronavirus pandemic.
Latest updates
WATCH LIVE: Melbourne's protest
Thousands of people are marching through Melbourne's CBD, shouting "No Justice! No Justice!". Watch the protest live, below:
Sydney protest in pictures
Even though the Sydney protest was only declared legal a few minutes before it was due to begin at 3pm, crowds have been gathering at Town Hall for hours.
Our photographers Rhett Wyman and James Brickwood are there.
Sydney protest.Credit:James Brickwood.
Sydney protest.Credit:James Brickwood
Sydney Black Lives Matter protest.Credit:Rhett Wyman
'This was a bigger issue': Melbourne protesters join rally despite COVID risk
By Rachael Dexter
Tom, a 29-year-old man from Melbourne, said he had wrestled this week over whether to attend the rally because of the COVID-19 risk.
"We wanted to come and stand for the rights of vulnerable people, but at the same time we're probably putting other vulnerable people at risk by doing so," he said.
In the end, Tom decided to come.
Tom joined the rally, 'because if we don't do it now, when will we do it?'.Credit:Rachael Dexter
"I just decided that this was a bigger issue and if we aren't going to do it now, then when are we going to do it?" he said.
"I'm here to stand in solidarity with people of colour and to stand against a system that privileges people who look like me."
Sydney protest declared legal after last minute court appeal
More on the NSW Court of Appeal ruling on the Sydney protest from our reporter Georgina Mitchell.
In a dramatic decision, the NSW Court of Appeal has ruled the Black Lives Matter protest at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD is an authorised public assembly.
The decision came down just before the protest was to begin at 3pm.
On Friday, NSW Supreme Court Justice Des Fagan declined to make that declaration.
Following an urgent hearing in the Court of Appeal this afternoon, Chief Justice Tom Bathurst, Court of Appeal President Andrew Bell and Justice Mark Leeming granted leave to appeal and declared that the protest - planned for 5000 people - "is an authorised public assembly".
Sydney protest ban overturned
The NSW Court of Appeal has declared the Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney an authorised public assembly.
And just in time too - the protest is starting at 3pm.
WATCH LIVE: Sydney's protest
Watch the Sydney protest unfold live, below.
Sydney's Town Hall station closed to prevent crowds assembling
Sydney's Town Hall station has been closed in an apparent attempt to stop crowds gathering before the 4pm rally. However, despite the closure of the station, hundreds of people have already made their way to George Street to protest.
Closed: Town Hall Station.Credit:James Brickwood
'Change starts in your own backyard'
By Zach Hope
The protest against racism has attracted the full spectrum of Melbourne’s diverse population.
Teachers Tim and Andrea are with their kids Poppy, Daisy and Harry to teach them that change "starts in your own backyard".
"Australia's history is not that good and we want to do something about the future," Amber said.
Teachers Tim and Andrea with their children.Credit:Zach Hope
Tim wants his kids to understand they live a privileged life, while many Australians do not.
Families remember loved ones
A number of family members of those who have died in Australian police custody are taking to the stage in succession to speak to the Melbourne crowd, Zach Hope and Rachael Dexter reports.
A representative from Yuendumu, the Northern Territory community where teenager Kumanjayi Walker was shot dead by police in November last year, is here in Melbourne
Constable Zachary Rolfe is facing a murder charge over the death.
A statement read from Kumanjayi’s grandmother Margaret Brown said she “screamed and cried” when she learned of George Floyd’s death in the USA.
“We are supporting them from our remote community in Yuendumu,” she said.
Veronica Nelson's brother Dwayne and Tanya Day's son are among the speakers asking for justice.
Veronica Nelson died alone in a maximum security cell on January 2 this year after being refused bail for alleged shoplift.
Tanya Day's death led to a commitment from the Victorian government to abolish the antiquated offence of public drunkenness, an offence recommended to be abolished by the 1991 royal commission.
Ms Day died after hitting her head in a Castlemaine police cell in 2017 and a coroner has referred two police officers for criminal investigation.
You can read more about Mr Walker here, Ms Day here and Ms Nelson here .
Song to farewell those who died in custody
After a minute's silence, solemn song has broken out at the Melbourne protest.
Our reporter Rachael Dexter says the song farewells the spirits of those who have died in custody.
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2020-06-06 05:06:00Z
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