Adelaide ‘freedom rally’ cheers teacher who says he was sacked for resisting mask mandate, as protests turn violent interstate

An Adelaide teacher who says he was sacked for telling students they didn’t have to wear a mask was applauded at a city protest against Covid restrictions and vaccines.

A teacher who resisted South Australia’s high school mask mandate has been hailed a hero by thousands of people who turned out to a “freedom rally” in Adelaide.

Those gathered at Rundle Park were told Andrew Lang, a teacher at Temple Christian College, was sacked after he told students they did not have to comply with the public health order.

“(The students) asked him, is this the law? And he explained to them that it wasn’t, he got a copy of the direction, he told them the truth about it,” retired judge Stuart Lindsay told those at the rally.

“Now it just so happened the principal of this school was walking past the classroom when he was doing that and he overheard this conversation with the students and he metaphorically dragged Andrew out of the class and there was a discussion at the door of the classroom.

“He didn’t like the truth being told about the mask mandate.”

The rally was told Temple Christian College teacher Andrew Lang had been sacked after telling his students they did not have to comply with mask rules because they were not the law. Picture: Emma Brasier

Mr Lindsay said Mr Lang, a father of four, was stood down then sacked by the school, and had now lodged proceedings in the Fair Work Commission.

He said said fellow teachers threatened to leave the school and parents insisted they would move their children, but none followed through.

“We’re three of four weeks down the track from Andrew’s sacking, and none of that has happened,” he told the crowd. “There’s the lesson. You’re on your own in this”.

The school has been contacted for comment.

Police estimated 2500 people attended the peaceful two-hour rally in Adelaide and there were no arrests or fines issued.

Protesters at the rally. Picture: Emma Brasier

Many at the rally wielded homemade signs. Picture: Emma Brasier

In the locked-down eastern states, however, things were not so calm. Violent scenes erupted in Richmond, Melbourne, and there were several arrests at two locations in Sydney.

Attendees in Adelaide were told the jab is “not a vaccine” and “in its experimental phase”, and urged to rebel against mask mandates and the state of emergency.

All Covid-19 vaccines in use in Australia have been thoroughly tested for safety and approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

In addition, there is a vast amount of medical data from around the world showing the vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness from the Covid-19 virus.

Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories have spread widely on social media, many making ridiculous claims that they somehow track recipients using 5G technology or are part of a vast international plot.

A woman holds a sign apparently referencing a decision by Bird in Hand winery to deny unvaccinated customers entry. Picture: Kathryn Birmingham

This police officer was one of the few in attendance wearing a medical face mask. Picture: Emma Brasier

At the conclusion of the rally, the crowd marched from Rundle Park to Parliament House and back via Grenfell Street.

As they walked, they chanted “no more lockdowns, we want freedom”, “no more vaccine” and “sack Steven Marshall”.

Many were accompanied by children and carrying signs, and very few were wearing face masks.

Hundreds of people gathered in Rundle Park for a protest against public health orders and the Covid vaccine. Picture: Kathryn Birmingham

Many young people were in attendance. Picture: Kathryn Birmingham

Another image from the rally. Picture: Emma Brasier

Originally published as Adelaide ‘freedom rally’ cheers teacher who says he was sacked for resisting mask mandate, as protests turn violent interstate