Covid protest held in front of Grafton council building / Video

Police have arrested more than 100 people after being called to simultaneous Covid-19 protests across the state. Officers are warning there may be more arrests to come.

The Last Post rang out on repeat during chaotic scenes in Grafton as police arrested and removed people who took part in a Covid-19 protest.

The Grafton protest was one of 69 recorded across the state on Tuesday morning, with police taking a tough stand on the breach of public health orders.

A police spokesman said 135 people had been arrested and officer had issued 436 PINs for the protests.

In Grafton, about 100 people, many without masks, gathered outside Clarence Valley Council’s temporary office building in Victoria Street about 9am Tuesday.

A police spokesman said the crowd was protesting on a variety of issues.

He said there were people who believed the law did not apply to them and some who didn’t believe in Covid and other vaccination messages.

A woman is taken by police to the police station at an anti Covid-law protest in Grafton. Picture: Jenna Thompson

The crowd was ordered to move on in accordance with public health orders.

The police spokesman said the crowd refused before protesters were warned that they would be arrested if they were still in breach of orders after five minutes.

After that time, police began to arrest people, including one man who was placed in a paddy wagon, with others walked to the police station across the road to be processed a short time later.

A man is spoken to by police at an anti Covid-law protest in Grafton. Picture: Jenna Thompson

The Last Post was played several times throughout the protest.

The Daily Examiner sought to speak with many of the protesters, who refused to speak, saying that “we knew the issues”.

There are reports of similar protests, including truck blockades across the North Coast.

Police speak with people gathered outside Clarence Valley Council's temporary building during an anti-Covid laws protest. Picture: Jenna Thompson

Two weeks ago, officer in charge of the Grafton Police Station Chief Inspector Jo Reid warned a “Walk For Freedom” protest being advertised on social media would not be tolerated.

“If you turn up to an unauthorised protest in Market Square, you will be fined or arrested,” she said of the event.