Citing COVID-19, Australia seeks to bar George Floyd protests

By Colin Packham and Byron Kaye

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a joint press conference held with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities moved on Friday to scupper protests inspired by the death of black American man George Floyd, saying large gatherings risk new coronavirus infections and banning the biggest rally planned for Sydney.

 

Around 50,000 Australians had been expected at nationwide events on Saturday as anger over Floyd's death in Minneapolis - where a white policeman knelt on his neck - also focuses attention on mistreatment of indigenous Australians.

 

Health Minister Greg Hunt said people had the right to express themselves, but should the COVID-19 disease spread at protests, it would be impossible to trace all participants.

 

"Any mass gathering at this time is a lottery with peoples' lives," he told reporters in Melbourne.

 

Authorities in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) secured a Supreme Court injunction to prevent the largest rally planned for Sydney.

 

Judge Desmond Fagan said a gathering of thousands was "an unreasonable proposition" given state directives for no more than 10 people to gather.

 

"It is self-evident that the social distancing measures ... have been the key element in minimising the spread of this disease," he said, adding that the right to free expression was being "deferred" until a safer time.

 

Some protesters, however, said they would carry on.

 

"I never lose my decision to fight for what is true," rally organiser Raul Bassi said after the court decision.

 

Australia has avoided the high infections and casualties of other nations, with only 102 deaths, because of border closures and social distancing since March.

 

NSW police had originally approved the Sydney protest, on the understanding there would be fewer than 500 participants, but far more had been planning to attend.

 

"The New South Wales government would never, ever give the green light to thousands of people flagrantly disregarding the health orders," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.

 

In Victoria state, where gatherings of more than 20 people are banned, police threatened fines for protest organisers and people breaking social distancing rules. Queensland and Western Australia states also urged people not to attend rallies.

 

"Let's find a better way and another way to express these sentiments," urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

 

"Let's exercise our liberties responsibly."

 

(Reporting by Colin Packham and Byron Kaye; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Jane Wardell and Andrew Cawthorne)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-06

 

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Unstoppable movements are in place, reclaim the streets from fear!

Why are aussies protesting because of the death of a black man in the USA ?

16 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Why are aussies protesting because of the death of a black man in the USA ?

Because of the lockdowns and nothing else to do. People power is a good thing to happen with these draconian rules limiting what you can and can't do.

Just now, tribalfusion001 said:

Because of the lockdowns and nothing else to do. People power is a good thing to happen with these draconian rules limiting what you can and can't do.

So they are protesting because they are bored ?

2 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

So they are protesting because they are bored ?

I think being bored is one reason, probably feel strongly too, but now have free time to join in. More protests in London and cities in the UK over the weekend. I might go and have a look in London, buy a 4 pack of beer and see what happens.

Just now, tribalfusion001 said:

I think being bored is one reason, probably feel strongly too, but now have free time to join in.

Bizarre.

 

Atleast they are over the toilet paper saga.

1 minute ago, Don Mega said:

Bizarre.

 

Atleast they are over the toilet paper saga.

I found this on The Independent tonight, protest guidelines.

4 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

So they are protesting because they are bored ?

Yes. Plus they have been essentially brainwashed into believing their white skin makes them guilty of something unspecific they need to atone for and make grovelling apologies for. All white people do not need to apologize for possible wrongdoings a long time before we were even born. These take a knee betas against a backdrop of looted and burning shops and cars is particularly sad to see. How misguided! Glad to hear the Oz authorities will not let this farce happen there too.

1 minute ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Yes. Plus they have been essentially brainwashed into believing their white skin makes them guilty of something unspecific they need to atone for and make grovelling apologies for. All white people do not need to apologize for possible wrongdoings a long time before we were even born. These take a knee betas against a backdrop of looted and burning shops and cars is particularly sad to see. How misguided! Glad to hear the Oz authorities will not let this farce happen there too.

There is a lot of bored under 30s out there who have been told not to socialize, no bars and clubs to go to, nothing to do for months. This is their chance to stick 1 finger up to authority and it's unstoppable now. Police trying to break up the demos will just inflame it even more. There are a lot of angry young people out there for various different issues in each country, George Floyd just unites them altogether.

Pity the NZ government wouldn't uphold their own rules and let the <deleted> mingle without ( apparently ) the cops even trying to enforce the law on the Auckland march. Good on Oz for banning it.

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Pity the NZ government wouldn't uphold their own rules and let the crazies mingle without ( apparently ) the cops even trying to enforce the law on the Auckland march. Good on Oz for banning it.

The demos are still going ahead in Australia, whether they are banned or not.

3 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

The demos are still going ahead in Australia, whether they are banned or not.

I hope the cops arrest them then, and they get a criminal record.

23 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

There is a lot of bored under 30s out there who have been told not to socialize, no bars and clubs to go to, nothing to do for months. This is their chance to stick 1 finger up to authority and it's unstoppable now. Police trying to break up the demos will just inflame it even more. There are a lot of angry young people out there for various different issues in each country, George Floyd just unites them altogether.

Hell ,  I am nearly 70 and bored and angry !!    

Depends what day it is, however,  for me to figure out which problem i am angry about

1 hour ago, Don Mega said:

Why are aussies protesting because of the death of a black man in the USA ?

They are gathering because this also has happened and continues to happen to Aboriginal men and women in custody, over 430 men and women in the past few years have died either because acts by Police or Custodial Correction Officers.

The latest death has unified people and couple this with the reaction by the POTUS, has inflamed others across the world.

 

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I hope the cops arrest them then, and they get a criminal record.

It one Sydney  NSW protest which has been banned.

Regional and other cities have attempted to have social distancing marshals in place, in some places police are marching with the protesters (Byron Bay)

1 hour ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Because of the lockdowns and nothing else to do. People power is a good thing to happen with these draconian rules limiting what you can and can't do.

Your post exposes your lack of knowledge about the deaths of Aboriginal men and women in custody despite recommendations from a Royal Commission two decades ago, and Aboriginal people make up 3% of the population but 34 percent of incarcerations .They are often charged with matters which white people are given a warning for, jailed for unpaid fines etc

 

5 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

They are gathering because this also has happened and continues to happen to Aboriginal mean and women in custody, over 430 men and women in the past few years have died either because acts by Police or Custodial Correction Officers.

The latest death has unified people and couple this with the reaction by the POTUS, has inflamed others across the world.

 

Right, so the death of a black American man is the trigger point for Australians to protest about 432 aboriginals dying in custody over the past 20 years.

 

Think they be better off fighting over toilet paper.

9 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Right, so the death of a black American man is the trigger point for Australians to protest about 432 aboriginals dying in custody over the past 20 years.

 

Think they be better off fighting over toilet paper.

You read like a person who does not even begin to understand or have insight about racism, injustice or other social matters, and enjoys their ignorance

The ripple effect of this death in America, is a bit like the hatred and ignorance rippling out from the WH , it has an effect

 

2 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Why are aussies protesting because of the death of a black man in the USA ?

Linked to Aboriginal deaths in custody

12 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Right, so the death of a black American man is the trigger point for Australians to protest about 432 aboriginals dying in custody over the past 20 years.

And the protests in every other corner of the western world are because? Because they can, because they want to, because they're bored too. Least Aussies have got some skin in the game......you obviously have NFBI about the situation on the ground or history behind it, and I'm not about to waste any more of my time to try and enlighten you!

31 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Your post exposes your lack of knowledge about the deaths of Aboriginal men and women in custody despite recommendations from a Royal Commission two decades ago, and Aboriginal people make up 3% of the population but 34 percent of incarcerations .They are often charged with matters which white people are given a warning for, jailed for unpaid fines etc

 

So it took a man dying in a far away country for Australians to protest about Aborigine deaths? I think not.

 

Have a march for Aborigines then, not some man with no connection to Oz.

38 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

It one Sydney  NSW protest which has been banned.

Regional and other cities have attempted to have social distancing marshals in place, in some places police are marching with the protesters (Byron Bay)

Hope the cops are enforcing social distancing then.

33 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

You read like a person who does not even begin to understand or have insight about racism, injustice or other social matters, and enjoys their ignorance

The ripple effect of this death in America, is a bit like the hatred and ignorance rippling out from the WH , it has an effect

 

So, if they are worried about Aboriginal deaths, why weren't they marching 2 weeks ago?

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So it took a man dying in a far away country for Australians to protest about Aborigine deaths? I think not.

 

Have a march for Aborigines then, not some man with no connection to Oz.

Hello , excuse me, you have not seen the Marches and the rallies for the past week for reconciliation?

This death has united the feelings against systemic racism, social injustice. Politicians are listening mostly, and the rallies in Australia are about the custodial deaths in Australia especially following coronal hearing results of a man in prison released this week,  he too died from asphyxiation, in a NSW prison, there are connections and unification.

  

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So it took a man dying in a far away country for Australians to protest about Aborigine deaths? I think not.

 

Have a march for Aborigines then, not some man with no connection to Oz.

You likely well know deaths in custody demonstrations in Oz are not unusual. Just an increasing trend to protest against social injustice in response to increasing right of centre political indifference and efforts at social division by trump wannabees in Oz.

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

They are gathering because this also has happened and continues to happen to Aboriginal men and women in custody, over 430 men and women in the past few years have died either because acts by Police or Custodial Correction Officers.

430 Aboriginal? 

Or 430 everyone? 

So many dead. 

 

Shocking the behavior of the farang police IMO.

 

 

 

45 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So it took a man dying in a far away country for Australians to protest about Aborigine deaths? I think not.

 

Have a march for Aborigines then, not some man with no connection to Oz.

Exactly, the American death whilst sad should not be the trigger point in Aus.

 

Sounds like my fellow Aussies are just using it as an excuse for the sake of protesting.

 

The 430 deaths in custody in Aus mentioned is just indigenous and Torres Strait Island people.

 

Apparently white lives don't matter.

 

#whitelivesmattertoo

 

 

3 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Why are aussies protesting because of the death of a black man in the USA ?

Why is the UK protesting too? 
 

Total morons.