Culture

Many Thousands Of People Turned Up All Over The Country For Black Lives Matter Protests

"Racism can SMD"

by Rebecca Shaw  7 June 2020
Black Lives Matter

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Tens of thousands of people have turned out in cities across Australia in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and to protest Indigenous deaths in custody. 

Defying Scott Morrison’s request that people ‘don’t go’ to the protests due to COVID-19, thousands of people showed up to rallies all around the country yesterday. The rally in Sydney was initially branded unauthorised under COVID public health orders, but a last minute Court of Appeal decision saw that decision overturned minutes before the protest was slated to start.

There were already thousands of people gathering before the news broke, willing to risk fines or prosecution, and the crowd grew even bigger as the afternoon went on.

Protestors across the country wore face masks, with organisers handing them out in most cities.

Melbourne saw a huge turnout as well, with many saying it is the biggest protest they’d seen in some time.

Brisbane and Adelaide also saw a massive amount of people join the protests.

It wasn’t just capital cities, however, with people also showing up in places like Wagga Wagga.

And as always, protest signs made a big impact.

The protests overall were extremely well-organised and well-attended, and as similar protests happen all across the world, there can be a glimmer of hope that maybe things will begin to change.