Thousands of people have marched in a Sydney Black Lives Matter protest after the NSW Court of Appeal allowed it to go ahead, just minutes before it was due to start.
On Friday, the NSW Supreme Court refused to give permission for the rally to go ahead on public health grounds, prompting rally organisers to file a last minute appeal at around 2pm on Saturday.
Then, 12 minutes before the scheduled 3pm start time, the NSW Court of Appeal declared the rally an authorised public assembly, meaning protesters could not be arrested for blocking roads along the planned route from Town Hall to Belmore Park.
Demonstrators cheered when the decision was handed down.
The rally was one of many to take place across the country on Saturday aiming to draw attention to the number of Aboriginal people who have died in custody in Australia.
Leetona Dungay speaking in Sydney
SBS News
Leetona Dungay, whose son David Jr died in Long Bay jail after shouting "I can't breathe", said she was emotional after becoming aware of the appeal's success.
"We're going to get justice for David today," she told SBS News.
"We are going to march on our land where they put my son's body underneath our feet.
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said the appeal’s success was “great news” and urged attendees to be "as safe as we possibly can".
Many protesters had publicly pledged to attend regardless, with the rally's organisers also promising to hand out face masks and hand sanitiser nearby "unrelated to any gathering".
Police closed Town Hall railway station at the start of the rally as a large police presence in the city continued to monitor proceedings.
One man holding an "All Lives Matter" banner was removed from the area by police.
Earlier, police had warned they could fine or arrest protesters for blocking roads or public transport services and for breaching COVID-19 public health orders.
A young girl holds up a sign during the Sydney protest
Nick Baker/SBS News
Protesters gathered in Sydney's CBD
Nick Baker/SBS News
"Police hold serious concerns about thousands of people gathering together in close proximity in the current health environment, as our priority is always community safety," NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in a statement late on Friday.
"Police will have a strong presence (Saturday) to ensure the law is obeyed.
"If people choose to disobey the Supreme Court ruling and attend the planned protest regardless, they need to be aware they are doing so unlawfully and police will respond accordingly."
Protest organiser Raul Bassi told the Supreme Court the protest would go ahead regardless and it would be safer for the court to grant permission so proper social distancing protocols could be put in place.
Police initiated the court action on Friday afternoon to stop the protest, but it became apparent during the four-hour Supreme Court hearing that the rally had never been deemed an authorised public assembly.
Justice Desmond Fagan then refused to approve it, citing the current coronavirus restrictions on mass gatherings.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
With AAP.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNicy5jb20uYXUvbmV3cy90aG91c2FuZHMtbWFyY2gtaW4tc3lkbmV5LWJsYWNrLWxpdmVzLW1hdHRlci1wcm90ZXN0LWFmdGVyLWRyYW1hdGljLWxhc3QtbWludXRlLWFwcGVhbC1zdWNjZWVkc9IBrAFodHRwczovL2FtcC5zYnMuY29tLmF1L3YxL2FydGljbGUvdGhvdXNhbmRzLW1hcmNoLWluLXN5ZG5leS1ibGFjay1saXZlcy1tYXR0ZXItcHJvdGVzdC1hZnRlci1kcmFtYXRpYy1sYXN0LW1pbnV0ZS1hcHBlYWwtc3VjY2VlZHMvYjA2NmMwMjMtYmMxMS00MjQxLTg0ZWEtNjFlOTM3ZDg0Zjc0P2FtcD0x?oc=5
2020-06-06 07:10:25Z
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