Hundreds of people attend Sydney protest despite police warnings - Sydney Morning Herald

Hundreds of people attended an unauthorised protest on Friday night despite police warning those who attended would be at risk of being fined or arrested.

The protest was scheduled to begin at Town Hall but was relocated to Hyde Park at the last minute, with event organisers citing an overwhelming police presence as the reason.

Protesters started chanting "Black Lives Matter" in Hyde Park, holding up photos of Indigenous people who had died in custody.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The event was a protest against black deaths in custody, showing solidarity with Long Bay prisoners and had been organised by the same coalition of activists who organised last Saturday's protest.

NSW Police Operation Commander Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said it had been disappointing to see about 300 people disobey earlier warnings about not attending the protest.

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"I'm exceptionally proud of the efforts of all the officers on the ground who quickly dispersed that crowd to Central Station where they left the area."

A 24-year-old woman from Panania was arrested after failing to comply with a move on direction and was subsequently issued with a penalty infringement notice for breaching a public health order. She has since been released.

A statue of James Cook was surrounded by police.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Commissioner Willing said that, while it was good to see event organisers urging people to go home, the protesters should not have been out.

"I thought they were in disarray," he said. "They didn't really realise the capability that we had on the ground and what we could do."

He added that social media reports that police had used a "sound weapon" were incorrect. Rather, they had used a megaphone to issue warnings and move on directions to the crowd.

At least 600 police were involved in Friday night's operation, many of whom surrounded Town Hall before the protest. Officers also lined one side of the Town Hall light rail stop.

By 6.30pm, protesters had relocated to Hyde Park and began chanting "Black Lives Matter", while some people held photos of Indigenous people who have died in custody.

Police interrupted a woman speaking into a megaphone to say those who continued protesting would be arrested.

The wet weather didn't stop protesters gathering at Hyde Park on Friday night.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

One female protester urged people to disperse or head home.

After a brief face-off with police outside St James Station, protesters walked through Hyde Park, passing the statue of James Cook, which was surrounded by mounted police.

Police followed them, asking the protesters to move on.

Protesters Sana Tamoowala and Louise Dolan said the rainy weather didn't dampen their spirits.

"It's never a waste [to come out], they [the police] know people are willing to keep fighting – they're not too scared," Ms Tamoowala said.

Ms Dolan took part in last Saturday's protest and was at Central Station when police used pepper spray to disperse a small group after the main rally had ended.

"It was disturbing to see," she said of the incident.

A separate prohibited protest is scheduled for Saturday, which could open up attendees to prosecution.

The rally, organised by the Refugee Action Coalition, was taken to court by NSW Police over concerns relating to COVID-19 and public gatherings on Thursday night.

"We're quite prepared to put sufficient resources on the ground tomorrow and any other day to deal with any issues that come up," Mr Willing said.

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2020-06-12 12:03:21Z
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