Sydney’s Black Lives Matter protest over before it began

Organisers of Sydney’s Black Lives Matter protest on Tuesday were arrested the moment they arrived, putting an end to the rally before it even began.

Nearly 200 people gathered in Sydney on Tuesday for a banned Black Lives Matter protest – but a large police operation just minutes before it began ensured barely anyone took part.

Police followed a large group of protesters heading to the park past St Mary’s Cathedral and made at least three arrests the moment they arrived at the Domain, causing organisers to beg protesters to turn around.

“Hi all, organisers have been arrested and fined and a move-on order has been issued for the entire area,” a post on the event’s Facebook page read.

“We recommend that anyone who was on their way to the Domain does not come anymore. We will be back.”

Among those arrested was organiser Paddy Gibson, who on Monday encouraged protesters to attend despite losing a last-minute appeal. He was fined $1000.

Protesters march towards the Domain before being surrounded by police outside St Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday. Picture: Matrix

Police well outnumbered protesters at the park, with groups of officers spaced around the park to manage what ended up being about 15 protesters.

A large police presence was also seen at nearby Hyde Park.

Police arrested six during the high-visibility operation, which included riot squad officers, horses, dogs, and highway patrol officers.

Three men, aged 40, 37 and 22, and two women aged 50 and 23, were arrested at the Domain and each issued with a $1000 fine for breaching public health orders.

A third woman, 25, was arrested for offensive language.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Assistant Commissioner Rick Willing said police were “appreciative” of people's right to protest but were focused on maintaining public safety amid the coronavirus crisis.

“We understand the issues that are in question here are significant and are sensitive to a lot of people,” he said.

“However, we must do what we can to ensure that the public in general are safe at this time. The operation itself is still ongoing, we will see what evolves, but unfortunately, we have seen six persons arrested.”

There were more police than protesters in the Domain at noon. Picture: Matrix

Mr Willing said while the protesters may have arrived in multiple smaller groups, they had breached a health order by being among more than 20 people gathered in the same space for a common purpose.

He admitted there were “many hundred” officers involved in the operation but said it was essential to prevent a possible coronavirus outbreak.

“We don‘t know where this disease, the way it will evolve,” he said. ”We don’t know whether or not someone does turn up at a public gathering carrying the disease, that’s the problem with this.

“Again, we are not anti-protest. Just don‘t do it in the middle of a pandemic, quite simple.”

The small group of protesters who remained on Tuesday said they were disappointed with the outcome and insisted the rally would have been a socially distanced and peaceful event.

“They’re talking about opening up stadiums, letting people be in the pub and small areas, but we can’t go to the park and share some stories,” Moldovan, 23, told NCA NewsWire.

She and her friend, Ysabella Schneider, said organisers had arranged for people to hand out masks and sanitiser and were committed to ensuring social distancing.

One protester with a mask that reads ‘I can’t breathe’. She stood with a man holding a sign protesting Australia’s treatment of refugees. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Hannah Moore

“If anything, I feel more unsafe walking down King St in Newtown because it’s so busy – everyone is crowding around, nobody is wearing masks or sanitising … it’s so unfair,” Moldovan said.

“There are so many people being so reckless about this pandemic, and we are trying to be here for a movement, and there’s no way to show support right now without the Government completely shutting it down.”

About half an hour into what would have been the protest, an elderly couple unravelled a banner that read “FOR THE LIBERATION OF AUSTRALIA‘S REFUGEE HOSTAGES”. Another man, passionate about the release of Julian Assange, joined them shortly after.

Clearly frustrated by the events, one man yelled: “What are you doing mate, it‘s Black Lives Matter.”

Two people held the banner and chanted about refugee rights before another man joined them (centre) and spoke about Julian Assange. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Hannah Moore

The rally was ruled unlawful by the NSW Supreme Court over the weekend, and the decision was upheld at an appeal on Monday.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Gibson encouraged people to come anyway.

“Come and have your lunch in the Domain in Sydney tomorrow,” he said.

“It's not illegal to have your lunch in the park in the city of Sydney still even under the COVID-19 pandemic … we'll be continuing to raise our voice for justice.”

The protest was held to call for charges to be laid against prison guards involved in the death of David Dungay.

Mr Dungay died in Long Bay Jail in 2015, aged just 26, after he was restrained by five guards and given a powerful sedative.

His family will present a petition of signatures calling for charges to be laid to the NSW parliament on Tuesday afternoon.