Eight people charged after Mardi Gras protest
A man and seven women, have been charged with using violence to cause fear in a group after lighting flares near the Labor Rainbow float.
Eight people have been charged after pro-Palestine protesters stormed onto the Mardi Gras parade route on Saturday night and fought with police in front of the NSW Premier’s float.
The masked protestors jumped over the barrier with a sign that read Queer Solidarity with Palestinian Resistace and lit green and red flares ahead of the Rainbow Labor float before about nine of them were forcibly pulled off the road by police.
Chris Minns’ moment as the first NSW Premier to march at Mardi Gras was cut short as he was escorted out of the parade by police.
A man and seven women, aged between 25 and 42, were later charged with using violence to cause fear in a group.
About 250,000 revellers were expected to descend on Oxford Street on Saturday to watch 200 floats and 12,000 colourful, glittered-up paraders.
Before the festivities kicked off, the Dykes on Bikes paused and the music stopped to honour murdered couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird, a moment organisers hoped would serve as a “reflection on the joy and love they brought into the world”.
Both men would have likely been in attendance on Saturday had their lives not been cut short.
In a Welcome to Country, Nana Miss Koori passed her condolences onto the families of Davies and Baird.
“I had the privilege just 12 months ago of meeting the boys at World Pride … rest in dreaming my two loved ones,” she said.
Davies’ mum Sandy walked behind her son’s colleagues in the Qantas float, led by an imitation aeroplane tagged with his name.
Colleagues told The Australian that while the night was “bitter-sweet”, they hoped to dance and celebrate in his honour.
His best friend of seven years Lee Kearney was among them and said Davies’ would have been dancing with them.
Domestic flight attendant Courtney Murphy only flew with Luke once before he moved to long-haul but remembered it fondly.
“He was beautiful. We only had a short trip together, but he was bubbly, kind, and you felt you were his friend immediately,” she said. “Rehearsals have been a little bit tearful but it’s been beautiful.”
Long haul cabin crew Cooper Smeaton, who flew international with Davies’, said he called him the “golden smile guy”.
“It’ll be lovely to be able to remember Luke. Our float has been named in honour of him,” Smeaton said, adding that he was meant to be flying with him to Shanghai on Monday.
The parade comes days after the couple’s remains were recovered from the Southern Tablelands and a week after their accused murderer, NSW Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, handed himself in to Waverley police station.
A small group of festival-goers were disapproving of NSW Police marching in this year’s parade in plain-clothes following an agreement with organisers, but most people cheered as the NSW Police - in matching rainbow-decorated polo-shirts - walked down Oxford Street.
Police Minister Yasmin Cately and Police Commissioner Karen Webb smiled and waved to onlookers.
“We’ve had a great reception and it’s been a great night,” the Commissioner said.
She said not wearing uniform was the right compromise to be able to attend the parade. “It’s a great display of inclusion, we’re a part of this and we’re a part of the community,” she said.
Ahead of the march, about 20 anti-police protestors stood in Hyde Park chanting “You’re not welcome” and “Not enough justice, too many coppers” as police watched on.
Emersyn Wood and Azizah Annesley said the murder of Baird and Davies had led them to join their first Pride in Protest rally.
“We are here mainly to protest the police presence at pride ... There’s recently been the murder of the queer couple in Paddington by a police officer ... and now they’re disrespecting the queer community by being at pride when a lot of people who I know that are gay do not feel comfortable being at pride this year because of the police presence,” Wood said.
“I think it’s more than ever now, so important to hear queer voices, especially with the queer events. The police have made no effort ... I think (the murders of the queer couple) was just horrible and disgusting, especially if police are supposed to protect us and look after us,” Annesley said.
Onlookers also cheered the Pride in Protest float which included a sign that read “stop police attacks on queers, women and Blaks”. They held a banner with a gun and bloody uniform which said “missing these”.
Organisers acknowledged the grief that would tinge the annual celebration in a statement on Saturday morning.
“As the Dykes on Bikes approach Taylor Square for their second pass — the heart of our Parade — they will come to a pause. This serves as a signal for all attendees to join in a moment of silence. It’s an act of remembrance, giving us the chance to collectively reflect on the lives of Jesse and Luke and to stand together in solidarity,” a statement from Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras said.
“As we join in silence at the signal of the Dykes on Bikes, let us honour the memories of Jesse and Luke, reflect on the joy and love they brought into the world, and reinforce our commitment to fostering a community where every individual is safe and cherished.”
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