Senator Lidia Thorpe removed from Sydney Mardi Gras for brush with police

A controversial senator has been blasted on social media for disrupting Sydney’s biggest ever Mardi Gras celebration.

Controversial independent senator Lidia Thorpe has received a blistering condemnation on social media for her protest at Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations.

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 on Saturday night.

She lay down in front of the Australian Federal Police float at about 9pm, causing a momentary disruption to the parade.

#MardiGras2023#MardiGraspic.twitter.com/V6eRwmTKKT

— ADAY (@AlexDay96) 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 colourful 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.

Lidia Thorpe laid down in front of a float during #MardiGras .

Then stuck up her finger at police when they attempted to remove her. #MardiGras organisers asked for her to be removed from the parade.

She’s zero respect for LGBTQIA people.

The woman is a disgrace!

— Rick (@colonelhogans) February 25, 2023

Social media users were infuriated, labelling the senator’s actions a “cheap self publicity stunt”.

“She’s (got) zero respect for LGBTQIA people. The woman is a disgrace!’” one wrote on Twitter.

Several users accused the senator of being an “attention seeker” and “a narcissist”.

What a disgraceful woman she is. No shock she’d want to disrupt an event about inclusivity. https://t.co/5Onkyy63KR

— Peter Ford (@mrpford) February 25, 2023

“What a disgraceful woman she is,” journalist Peter Ford wrote.

“No shock she’d want to disrupt an event about inclusivity.”

When the senator 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.

Lidia Thorpe was removed from Sydney Mardi Gras.

“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.

Many of the derisive comments were aimed at the independent senator after she broke her silence on the disruptive protest.

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

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.

In the decades since, people dedicated their lives toward the campaign for equality. pic.twitter.com/o9NYh0JwLW

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 25, 2023

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.

Police say they arrested four people during Saturday night’s Mardi Gras events throughout Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

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.

Originally published as Senator Lidia Thorpe removed from Sydney Mardi Gras for brush with police