Crowds Gather In Capital Cities As Aussies Rally In Support Of Black Lives Matter

Protests

Crowds have begun to gather at protests across capital cities, in solidarity with indigenous Australians and the Black Lives Matter movement, and against the murder of George Floyd in the US.

The Supreme Court of NSW gave a determination yesterday that protests could not go ahead due to COVID-19 concerns, but following a successful last-minute appeal, they will proceed.

Protests in Sydney kicked off at 3pm in front of the city’s Town Hall, where large crowds had already started to assemble prior to the successful appeal.

In South Australia, police gave special permission for the rally to go ahead despite public health restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protesters filled Victoria Square and spilled onto neighbouring streets.

Aerial footage of the protests shows thousands of people gathering in and around Brisbane’s King George Square, where people waved indigenous flags and carried signs in support of Black Lives Matter.

Authorities in Victoria warned organisers and individual protesters that they would face fines, and the state’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned people against attending for public safety reasons.

Nonetheless, thousands gathered in Melbourne, where representatives from the local Wurundjeri people have addressed the crowd from the steps of the parliament.

Hundreds have registered their interest in attending a candlelight vigil on the lawns of Parliament House in Hobart.

More Stuff From PEDESTRIAN.TV