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Wild scenes as Sydney anti-lockdown protesters clash with police

The violent scenes that erupted along Sydney streets as thousands of protesters marched against ongoing lockdowns will be a scene never forgotten.

Ben Graham and Alex Blair
4 min read
July 25, 2021 - 1:04AM
Violent scenes as Sydney anti-lockdown protesters clash with police

The worrying video that has been released of protests erupting in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday, as a sea of thousands of anti-lockdown demonstrators took to the streets in Australia’s two biggest cities, will be a scene the country will never forget.

A crowd stretching as far as the eye can see was spotted moving through the CBD towards Town Hall amid a massive police presence — some on the ground estimate there were as many as 15,000 people taking part in the march. Protestors were spotted scaling buildings as the demonstration grew, flooding the empty streets under lockdown.

Footage on social media shows the demonstrators walking down Broadway — one of the main arteries through Sydney’s inner-west — as part of a “worldwide rally for freedom” in the CBD.

One video captured the moment a group surrounded a unit of mounted police, hurling what appeared to be a pot plant at one of the officers.

The crowd can be heard chanting “New South Wales” repeatedly in the video.

Entire families can be seen among the crowd and few people are wearing face masks at the unauthorised event — which has already sparked violent scenes.

Footage shared by locals on social media showed police arresting people in a brawl in nearby Chippendale.

Reports confirmed protests have also erupted in Brisbane. Some 7,500 protestors gathered in Brisbane City Botanic Gardens to protest the government’s response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Dozens of arrests have been made as some protestors swarmed and threw items at mounted police opposite Sydney Town Hall.

Amy Thomas, who posted the footage on Twitter said: “Stepped outside my house in Chippendale 5 mins ago to see some intense police brutality – assuming this is an anti-lockdown protest that police diverted from Broadway.

“It’s not a cause I support but the license that officers were taking here is something that concerns me. I saw several arrests and open threats from officers to ‘get people’.”

A huge police presence can be seen mounted on horseback and on foot in the footage.

Police officers, locals and protesters can be can be seen fighting among each other, with one group throwing punches before falling to the ground in a tangle.

Police appeared to handcuff one man from the scuffle.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian unleashed on the protestors, saying she was “utterly disgusted” by the scenes witnessed around the CBD.

“I am utterly disgusted by the illegal protestors in the City today whose selfish actions have compromised the safety of all of us,” read the statement.

“The protestors have shown utter contempt for their fellow citizens who are currently doing it tough.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has unleashed on the Sydney protestors. Picture: Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has unleashed on the Sydney protestors. Picture: Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images.

“I want to thank the brave Police officers who put their own safety on the line to ensure the protest action ceased.

“This type of activity during lockdown will not be tolerated and the full force of the law will be brought against anyone who engages in this type of illegal activity.”

Protestors clash with NSW Police officers at Town Hall. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi
Protestors clash with NSW Police officers at Town Hall. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi
Thousands gathered in the CBD. Picture: Matrix
Thousands gathered in the CBD. Picture: Matrix
Mounted police are in attendance. Picture: Matrix
Mounted police are in attendance. Picture: Matrix

NSW Police say the march is unauthorised due to public health orders and many on social media are not happy about the mass gathering.

Speaking at a press conference today the NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard called the protests “silly” given the rising number of Covid cases in NSW.

“We live in a democracy and normally I am certainly one who supports people’s right to protest, but I actually think it is really silly,” he said.

“At the present time we’ve got cases going through the roof, and we have people thinking that it’s OK to get out there and possibly be close to each other at a demonstration. I just think that’s a bit silly.”

The protests come as the state records yet another record day of Covid-19 cases, with 163 new cases today.

Police have made several arrests. Picture Matrix
Police have made several arrests. Picture Matrix

NSW Police received an application for the protest, which was rejected.

Under the current public health orders, people who are not from the same household cannot gather in groups of more than two outside.

Even then, it has to be for exercise.

A spokesman for NSW Police told news.com.au the situation was ongoing and a number of arrests had been made.

Thousands have taken to the streets. Picture: Matrix
Thousands have taken to the streets. Picture: Matrix

“The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however, today’s protest is in breach of the current COVID-19 Public Health Orders,” they said.

“The priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.”

They said that as attendees disperse, movement out of the city will be facilitated down George Street.

Trains continue to operate and for those at the northern end, access is via Wynyard and Circular Quay Railway Stations.

For those at the southern end, access will be via Central and Redfern with limited access at Town Hall Railway Station.

St James and Museum Railway Stations are closed.

Melbourne rocked by protests

Protesters take to the streets during a Freedom rally on July 24, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Diego Fedele/Getty Images.
Protesters take to the streets during a Freedom rally on July 24, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Diego Fedele/Getty Images.

There are also protests happening in Melbourne. At least 1000 protesters have also gathered in the city’s CBD.

The health minister there also blasted the mass gathering — saying he is “beyond disappointed” at protest action.

He blasted the movement as “ratbaggery efforts” and said those taking part “are on the side of the virus”.

“Please. be on the side of humanity, not the side of virus,” he said.

A car rally is also planned for locked-down Adelaide, with police warning they will make arrests over unlawful activity.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/wild-scenes-as-sydney-antilockdown-protesters-clash-with-police/news-story/e5b47e5103e55a7c6ebd1eb6d0094a78