Police, protesters gather ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos’ Sydney event
SEVERAL protesters have been arrested as police and crowds clash ahead of controversial right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos’s Sydney event tonight. Watch footage of the protest.
NSW
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POLICE have already arrested several protesters, as police and crowds gather ahead of controversial right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos’s Sydney event tonight.
More than 100 police have lined the streets around the exclusive Le Montage at Lilyfield, including Riot Squad officers with shields and police on horseback.
A group of about 15 protesters carrying signs deriding “Nazi Scum” and rainbow flags were earlier already been moved on by officers.
The protest group has now swelled to more than 50 people, who are chanting “racist, sexist, anti-queer, Milo is not welcome here” from a distance.
The group organising the protest is understood to be the anti-islamaphobia collective from the University of Technology Sydney.
The location of the event was kept secret from everyone - including those who bought tickets to attend - until late this afternoon.
Police arrested one man about 6.15pm after a short scuffle with police officers.
SEE THE VIDEO FROM THE SCENE
Explicit language warning
He was searched and taken away to a waiting police van.
Another man has also been detained by officers.
Officers are now holding a line against the protesters.
Protestors are waving big red flags. At one point, a group of protestors swarmed one member of the arriving audience, and police had to drag the man away from the angry crowdz
Police are desperately trying to prevent a riot breaking out after out-of-control protests in Melbourne led to a night of terror for Kensington residents.
Susan Price, 51, from Parramatta said so many different activist groups had gathered together.
“I’m here because I disagree with Milo’s hate speech. We’ve come out to raise our voices to say this is not the kind of country we want to live in,” Ms Price said.
“His hateful, misogynistic ideas are given a platform and are not answered by the people. It’s important for people to be here to make it known that we welcome refugees and we believe domestic violence is an issue, where he does not.
“We speak on behalf of the majority of people in Australia that do not agree with the hatred Milo is spouting.
“There are a range of groups and individuals here tonight, people who campaign against Islamophobia, feminists are here and anti-racist protesters. It’s amazing what a big police presence there is.”
Yiannopoulos is set to take the stage at 8pm