NT Police refuses to explain lack of visible police presence at Black Lives Matter rally in Darwin

NT Police has refused to explain a notable lack of a law enforcement presence at Saturday’s Black Live Matter rally in Darwin.

NT POLICE has refused to explain the lack of a law enforcement presence at Saturday’s Black Lives Matter rally in Darwin.

The rally was organised by Larrakia women Sharna Alley and Mililma May in protest against police brutality and Aboriginal deaths in custody and, despite the march getting the official all-clear, there was no uniformed police presence to maintain order. In response to a series of questions from the NT News, a police spokeswoman declined to say why the officers stayed away, saying only that they “maintained their distance in a response capacity only”.

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“Police spoke to organisers several times throughout the day and acknowledge the work they did in their planning to obtain necessary permits and provide health messaging,” she said.

Despite police in NSW unsuccessfully seeking a court order to stop a similar March in Sydney, officers still attended the ultimately sanctioned march, with some reportedly even praising the spirit of the demonstration.

More than a thousand Top Enders gather at a BLM rally in The Darwin CBD. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

But when asked whether the lack of attendance by any representative from NT Police was a missed opportunity to show solidarity with indigenous Territorians, the spokeswoman again declined to respond directly.

“Northern Territory police would like to acknowledge the Darwin community for respecting arrangements put in place to enable Saturday’s protest through the CBD,” she said.

“It was a peaceful event and allowed community members to express their views in a safe environment.”

The lack of police supervision came despite the wholly peaceful protest attracting more than 1000 demonstrators, making it one of the biggest public protests in the NT in recent memory.

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Meanwhile, health minister and Attorney-General Natasha Fyles defended a move to quietly stop enforcing social distancing requirement before the rally while encouraging Territorians to keep it up.

“My understanding is they were in the (chief health officer’s) direction and those directions have been made public every time they have been changed,” she said.

“I encourage Territorians to make sure they are up to date with the latest information and in those directions it was quite clear.”