A large crowd of protesters have marched through Hyde Park in Sydney ahead of Saturday’s mardi gras parade to protest the involvement of NSW Police.
Marching through the park towards the marshalling area for the parade on Saturday, the crowd chanted “stop police attacks on gays, women and blacks”.
The organisers, Pride in Protest, also sparked chaos in Darlinghurst, the heart of the city’s LGBTQI+ community on Friday night, when about 300 people arrived for the same reason.
Police were formally uninvited to march in this year’s parade following the arrest of a serving police officer, who was charged with the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
Police will allege in court Beau Lamarre-Condon, who worked in the NSW Police Youth Command, used his service weapon to kill the pair, who had recently started dating.
Following a meeting with police commissioner Karen Webb, officers were again allowed to march, however not in uniform, and they are not permitted to be carrying weapons.
Officers on duty will be out in force at the parade, however, drawing further ire from the group.
Pride in Protest organisers summoned those marching with the group to Town Hall for a “speak out” event from 2pm on Saturday, with the march towards the marshalling area in Hye Park taking place just after 4pm.
Sharing a photo of the police contingent assigned to the group’s pre-parade protest on Instagram, organisers remarked: “This might as well be their float”.
In the marshalling area, one protester brandished a large sign showing a gun with blood splatter, flanked by the rainbow flag.
A costume police uniform was draped on top of the canvas, which read: “Missing these?”
Where can you watch Sydney’s Mardi Gras Parade?
Saturday night’s mardi gras Parade will begin on the corner of Hyde Park and Oxford Street at 7.30pm, travel along Oxford and Flinders Streets and conclude at Moore Park about 11pm.
Watching from the street is free, but crowds are expected to be heaving along the parade route and throughout the city, with parties taking place across the CBD.
Anyone wanting to avoid the crowds can buy tickets for prime viewing areas, with some still available on Saturday afternoon.
Those watching from home can tune in on ABC from 7.30pm or on iview.
The broadcast will be hosted by Australia’s most iconic drag star, Courtney Act, non-binary musician G-Flip, actor Remy Hii, and ABCQueer host Mon Schafter.
Who will march?
This year’s Mardi Gras is set to be a big one, with more than 12,000 marchers set to make their way along the route.
The parade will start off with a roar with Dykes on Bikes, followed by Boys on Bikes and Melbourne Motorcycle Tourers.
Nearly 200 floats, representing groups within the LGBTQI+ community, government and community organisations, and major corporations, are expected to travel along the parade route this year.
First Nations will kick off the floats, to be followed by the original marchers, the 78’ers. Alex Greenwich, NSWs only openly gay MP, will join Clover Moore on a float called ‘fearless representatives’ early on. Chris Minns will join the Rainbow Labor NSW float, marking the first time a NSW Premier has marched in the parade.
A contingent from the NSW Police Force will march, though not in uniform, after they were uninvited from the parade following the alleged murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird at the hands of a serving police officer.
When NSW Police were uninvited, the Australian Federal Police also pulled out of the parade, and did not reverse their decision following the re-inclusion of NSW Police.
Qantas will make a special tribute to its former employee Mr Davies during its time on the parade route, having etched his name onto its float, and group members are expected to wear black armbands in tribute.
Parade to halt for moment of silence
Organisers of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade have revealed they will halt the parade through to pay tribute Mr Baird and Mr Davies, amid sombre reflections on the couple’s lives days ahead of the event.
Mr Baird, 26 and his boyfriend Mr Davies, 29, were allegedly murdered at Baird’s sharehouse in Paddington at about 9.30am in February 19.
Senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon is accused of using his police-issued pistol to shoot them, before dumping the bodies at a rural property.
A moment of silence will be observed for the young couple during this evening’s parade, which is due to start at 6pm.
“We will take a moment to honour and remember Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, whose lives were tragically taken from us,” Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras said in a statement on Saturday.
“This moment of commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of the bonds that unite us and the memories of those we hold dear.
“As the Dykes on Bikes approach Taylor Square for their second pass — the heart of our Parade — they will come to a pause.
“This serves as a signal for all attendees to join in a moment of silence.”
Mr Davies will also be honoured by his former employer, Qantas, on its float during the parade.
Hundreds of people gathered in Green Park in Darlinghurst on Friday night, an evening that would usually signal the start of a weekend of celebration and partying.
Instead, friends, family and members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered at dusk to pay tribute to the lives of the young couple whose live were cut so tragically short.
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2024-03-02 05:48:45Z
CBMi2wFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9uc3ctYWN0L25ld3MvbWFyZGktZ3Jhcy10by1ob25vdXItYWxsZWdlZC1tdXJkZXItdmljdGltcy1qZXNzZS1iYWlyZC1sdWtlLWRhdmllcy13aXRoLW1vbWVudC1vZi1zaWxlbmNlLWFzLW11bXMtdG91Y2hpbmctZmFjZWJvb2stYWN0LXJldmVhbGVkL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvMjAzODg5YmYzN2NjNzgwMzMwMDhiNjlhZDMwMjg2ZmbSAQA
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