Organisers of the Black Lives Matter rally set for Sydney today have launched an urgent appeal to overturn the Supreme Court ban on the event.
Key points:
- The Supreme Court ruled on Friday the event was not authorised
- Organisers have now launched an urgent appeal against the decision
- NSW Police Minister David Elliott has warned police are "well prepared" for those who do attend
Greens MP David Shoebridge confirmed that organisers had lodged an appeal at the NSW Court of Appeal, just hours before the protest was due to start.
Mr Shoebridge said rally organisers had drafted summons and had contacted the court seeking an urgent audio visual hearing.
Protestors have vowed to turn up despite the court ban.
Mr Shoebridge said the case presented would argue that "the judge got it wrong".
"The organisers have received strong advice from lawyers across the legal community that the decision has significant flaws that amount to jurisdictional error," he said in a tweet.
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The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the protest was not authorised.
On Friday, Justice Desmond Fagan acknowledged he was balancing the recognised right of public assembly against health risks, but ultimately said a rally of even 5,000 people was "a very undesirable idea" given the current health advice.
Police will have the power to issue move-along orders if more than 500 people attend, with the option of also issuing $1,000 fines for breaking social distancing rules.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott has warned those heading to the protest today could risk lives, and police were "well prepared".
"Nobody wants to see freedom of speech exercised more than me, and I think that while the cause being advocated is more than honourable, I think the protest will put lives in danger," he said on Saturday morning.
He said people should acknowledge the Supreme Court ruling but added "police are prepared for anyone who just wants to flout the law".
"The New South Wales police force will have appropriate numbers in the Sydney metropolitan area today to ensure that anybody that wants to ignore the Supreme Court ruling is reminded that it will be an illegal gathering and that they are not allowed to be on the street as part of that process."
NSW coronavirus social distancing laws stipulate gatherings of more than 500 people are illegal.
Thousands of people have indicated on the event's Facebook page that they still plan to attend.
NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman reiterated concerns.
"I understand the grievances. I understand the passion. But I'm asking everyone to put public safety first … I'm asking everybody, please use some restraint, please use some common sense and don't go to these mass gatherings."
The protests follow more than a week of turmoil globally after African-American George Floyd died while in police custody in Minneapolis.
In Sydney earlier this week, outrage was sparked when a police officer was caught on camera leg sweeping an Indigenous teen.
The incident is under investigation by the police Professional Standards Command.
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2020-06-06 02:41:43Z
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