Scuffles break out in Richmond injecting room march

SCUFFLES broke out this morning during a residents’ rally calling for a safe injection room in North Richmond.

Victoria Street traders were on hand to meet the protesters. Picture: AAP

SCUFFLES broke out this morning during a residents’ rally calling for a safe injection room in North Richmond.

A group of about 500 residents marched from North Richmond station but were faced by a small group of traders.

A brief confrontation between the two groups occurred at the corner of Lennox and Victoria Streets, an area known as the epicentre of the heroin trade.

And paramedics were called to Victoria Street to treat a suspected overdose victim just minutes after the rally ended.

A police officer breaks up protesters on Victoria Street. Picture: AAP

Residents chanted “34, how many more?”. Picture: AAP

Families of heroin-overdose victims led the march and residents chanted “34, how many more?” in reference to the 34 heroin deaths in 12 months in the area.

Traders say they support a safe-injecting room but not on Victoria St.

Traders association president Meca Ho said traders had not been consulted by the protest group.

Loretta Gabriel, whose son Sam died of a heroin overdose on Little Lithgow St a year ago, told the rally a safe-injecting room would save lives.

“The longer the government delays introducing a safe injection room the longer that are complicit in more deaths,” she said.

Man is recovering. Great work by Ambos. pic.twitter.com/F1J7csuplT

— Ian Royall (@IanRoyall) August 27, 2017

The area is known as the epicentre of the heroin trade. Picture: Ian Royall

Around 500 people took part in the rally. Picture: Ian Royall

Prominent barrister Robert Richter said that since 2000 hundreds if not thousands of people had died because governments had done nothing.

Those deaths were avoidable, he said.

“Politically it’s a no-brainer. Because you’re saying that saving lives is important.”

TV journalist Laura Turner, whose sister Skye died from an overdose, made a powerful plea for the state government to show compassion.

“A safe injection room would have saved her life. And Skye would be here today.”

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