A massive crowd turned out on Saturday to protest against the state government’s COVID-related public health orders. As case numbers continued to soar, thousands marched through Sydney’s CBD, demanding an end to the lockdown. Crowd numbers were estimated between 10,000-50,000. NSW Police claimed an attendance of only 3,500.
The protesters were made up of a disparate collection of people who feel aggrieved by the harsh lockdown measures imposed on select areas of Sydney, to the city’s the west and south-west. But the crowd also included a significant number of libertarians, fascists, nationalists, anti-vaxers, conspiracy theorists and religious zealots.
Despite a massive police presence, authorities were unable to control the huge rally, which began at Victoria Park and marched to Town Hall and back again. Violence broke out several times along the route. 57 people were arrested and the Police Minister later warned of more arrests.
The protest was part of an international network, ‘World Wide Rally for Freedom’, and coincided with similar marches in various cities across the world. Smaller protests also took place in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.
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