Australian Black Lives Matter protesters are set for a showdown with the police after cops call for weekend demonstration to be BANNED
New South Wales Police has applied to the state’s Supreme Court to ban a Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney on Saturday.
Thousands have registered to be part of a huge demonstration in the city’s CBD but NSW public health laws only allow 10 people to gather in a group.
Yesterday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian appeared to support the protest as long as it could be done in a COVID-Safe way.
But today she said the protesters were no longer planning to comply with health orders and told them not to turn up.
‘At no stage, did the New South Wales Government support thousands and thousands of people flagrantly, breaching the health rules,’ she said.
‘Clearly what this protest has turned into is a flagrant disregard from the health rules,’ she said.
‘Do not think about breaching the health orders.’
Tens of thousands of protesters are preparing to march through Australian cities this weekend in support of the Black Lives Matter movement (pictured: A protest in Sydney on Tuesday)
Black rights protests have sprung up around the western world in response to American demonstrations following the death of a black security guard named George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
Scott Morrison has urged protesters not to attend demonstrations this weekend.
Thousands of aboriginal rights activists are due to attend rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Saturday despite health officials warning they could cause COVID-19 outbreaks.
The Prime Minister today said he respected the right to protest but urged people ‘find another way’ to express their voices that would not endanger public health.
He said gathering in large groups was disrespectful to Australia’s war veterans who did not commemorate ANZAC Day this year due to restrictions.
The Prime Minister (pictured today) said he respected the right to protest but urged people ‘find another way’ to express their voices that would not endanger public health
Scott Morrison has urged protesters not to attend Black Lives Matter demonstrations this weekend. Pictured: A protest in Sydney on Tuesday
In a press conference in Canberra, Mr Morrison said: ‘We all found a way on Anzac Day to thank those who gave us our liberty and not gather in large numbers.
‘And we stood on the end of our driveways and we held up a light on that dawn in our windows or our balconies and we found a way to celebrate those who gave us our liberty.
‘Let’s not misuse that liberty. Let’s respect it. Let’s respect other Australians.
‘And let’s thank those who had the absolute agony of not being able to say goodbye to a loved one, by showing responsibility this weekend.’
Mr Morrison also pointed out that aboriginal people were most at threat from the protests because they are more vulnerable to coronavirus.
‘The health advice is very clear, that it’s not a good idea to go,’ he said,
Mr Morrison said gathering in large groups was disrespectful to Australia’s war veterans who did not commemorate ANZAC Day this year. Pictured: The Dawn Service in Canberra
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has told protesters in his state to stay at home to protect public health.
Queensland leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has remained silent.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said: ‘You can’t go to the footy. why on earth should 10,000 people be allowed to make merry at the Town Hall steps?’
On Friday morning, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the country’s successful battle against the virus could be undone by protesters.
‘There is a risk that all of the gains that we have made are put at risk by people gathering in large numbers,’ he said.