Senator Lidia Thorpe removed from Sydney Mardi Gras for brush with police
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe says she is ‘proud’ after she was removed from Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations at the request of organisers.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has broken her silence after she was removed from Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations on Saturday night.
The senator – who defected from the Greens earlier this month to speak independently for the blak sovereign movement – caused a stir when she marched in the parade.
She lay down in front of the Australian Federal Police float at about 9pm, causing a momentary disruption to the parade.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday morning, the senator said she was “proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float”, putting her stunt in a historical context.
Black and brown trans women started the first pride march as a protest against police violence. Today, we still face violence from police. Proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float in Sydney to say #NoPrideInGenocide, #NoPrideInPrisons, and #NoCopsInPride
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) February 25, 2023
“Black and brown trans women started the first pride march as a protest against police violence,” she wrote.
“Today, we still face violence from police.
“Proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float in Sydney to say #NoPrideInGenocide, #NoPrideInPrisons, and #NoCopsInPride.”
Happy #MardiGras#WorldPride 2023 pic.twitter.com/4F0vAfIKr0
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) February 25, 2023
In a scene captured and shared by fellow revellers on social media on Saturday night, the senator can be seen lying on the ground while two officers speak to her.
The crowd can be heard telling police to “get rid of her” and “get her up” before what looked to be event organisers or marshals intervening.
At one stage, she can be seen visibly swatting away the hand of a police officer.
#MardiGras2023#MardiGraspic.twitter.com/V6eRwmTKKT
— ADAY (@AlexDay96) February 25, 2023
When she did eventually stand up, she can be seen pointing fingers at the two police officers.
One of the officers can be seen trying to put distance between them as the crowd grows louder and continues to boo the controversial politician.
“She was later removed from the parade at the request of organisers for breaching the terms of her participation,” a statement from NSW Police read.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became the first sitting Prime Minister to march in the parade.
Leading the Labor contingent with NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns, Mr Albanese said he was “honoured” to march.
When the first Mardi Gras march was held in 1978, you could still be arrested for being gay.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 25, 2023
In the decades since, people dedicated their lives toward the campaign for equality. pic.twitter.com/o9NYh0JwLW
Elsewhere, NSW police said they were pleased with the behaviour of the “overwhelming majority” of revellers and supporters.
More than 900 officers were out on the streets of Sydney as part of the event, and also had their own float.
Police arrested four people for offences including assaulting police.
During an arrest on Oxford Street, one officer suffered a suspected broken nose and another received a black eye and several grazes after being assaulted while travelling to Moore Park.
Police are yet to identify those responsible.
Miners’ blast to Treasurer: don’t waste our billions
Mining chiefs have accused Jim Chalmers of squandering surpluses they helped deliver and warned the budget will remain in deficit unless spending is reined-in and fiscal discipline applied.
Arrogant Big Super opts out of decency
Thousands of Rest Super members wrongly slugged for insurance have been told they need to get in contact if they don’t want to keep paying the fees turned on by ‘accident’ months ago.