Cops clash with protesters at anti-police rally in Sydney

Sydney cops clash with protesters at an anti-police rally on the eve of Mardi Gras celebrations.

Sydney cops clashed with protesters at an anti-police rally on the eve of mardi gras celebrations, ordering more than 100 people to move on as they chanted “go home pigs” and “no cops no bigots”.

Activist group Pride in Protest organised the demonstration in the heart of Darlinghurst on Friday night, saying it was “marching in resistance of relentless police violence”, following the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by serving police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

The NSW Police were there as part of a police operation. Picture: Supplied/ @brianthomsontv

Protesters were moved on by NSW Police at Oxford St. Picture: Supplied/ @brianthomsontv

Police were called to Flinders Street around 8.30pm on Friday night, after protesters waved flags and chanted “go home police” in the middle of the road, forcing traffic to a standstill.

In videos posted online, one woman was seen climbing onto a ute in Flinders Street, before police ordered her to get down.

At one point officers were forced to physically push the group backwards off the street, after they refused to move from the roadway.

Police clear Oxford street protest pic.twitter.com/CtsLRsYT6y

— brian thomson (@brianthomsontv) March 1, 2024

Screams could be heard from the crowd of people, with one woman heard screaming “don’t touch me you pigs”.

The crowd eventually dispersed, before around 50 people moved toward the Sydney Police Centre on Goulburn Street.

They again began chanting outside the building, before officers directed them off the roadway after several minutes.

NSW Police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

On Saturday morning, NSW Police confirmed no arrests had been made as a result of the protest.

The protest came after NSW Police were uninvited to march in the mardi gras parade on Monday following the arrest of Lamarre-Condon.

However, organisers backtracked on the original decision and will allow NSW Police officers to march in the parade in plain clothes.

As protesters began marching on Friday night, a silent vigil for Jesse and Luke was wrapping up in nearby Green Park.

Hundreds of people gathered to mourn the tragic loss of the couple, after their bodied were found near Goulburn earlier this week.