The Invasion Day march in Sydney has been called off, with one organiser reportedly saying they were too concerned police would “incite a riot” to allow the march to go ahead.
“We’ve been threatened by police intimidation saying they will smash us if we take to the streets,” Gomeroi woman Gwenda Stanley said, according to NITV reporter Rachael Hocking.
“Instead of allowing them to incite a riot, we’ve advised everyone to disperse and stay safe.”
https://twitter.com/hocking_rachael/status/1353862751613902848
There are reports several people have been arrested by NSW Police, but it is not known how many or why.
for context: protesters were of course non-violent and relatively socially-distanced. This guy was attached after he asked Inspector Gary Coffey to wear a face mask like the rest of us
— Zac Crellin (@zacrellin) January 26, 2021
Thousands of people had gathered on Djarrbarrgalli (The Domain) on Gadigal land in Sydney on January 26 for Invasion Day, despite the NSW Government refusing to grant an exemption for the rally to go ahead.
Folks sat in groups of 500 people in order to be compliant with current state health orders, with almost 100 COVID safety marshals on hand to keep the event safe. Everyone was wearing masks and asked to bring hand sanitiser.
The event appeared to be a largely peaceful one. According to The Guardian, most attendees complied with requests from organisers to disperse.
“We negotiated with police to have a sit-down ceremony and gathering at the Domain,” organiser Paul Silva told the publication.
“And I would say upon dispersing, a small group of people decided to cause conflict between police, and due to that, they were not arrested, but detained and fined.”
Ian Brown, an organiser of Syd #InvasionDay has thanked cops. “The police, given the numbers were very cooperative so we thank them for that,” he told @newscomauHQ
“They allowed us to occupy the Domain and for the event to go ahead”. Police say it was peaceful: no arrests.— Benedict Brook (@BenedictBrook) January 26, 2021
Police are due to make a statement at 1pm.
