Australia’s most populous state takes legal steps to stop Black Lives Matter protest

Australia’s most populous state has lodged a legal application to stop a Black Lives Matter protest occurring in Sydney, state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday.

Thousands of people have pledged to attend a protest organised in Sydney on Saturday in the wake of death of black American George Floyd in U.S. police custody.

The protest had secured permission as it originally planned to have fewer than 500 people present. But Berejiklian said when it became clear that thousands planned to attend, the legal application was made to the state’s Supreme Court

Meanwhile, Australians should not attend planned protests against the death of black American George Floyd in U.S. police custody due to the risk of spreading coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.

Protests against police brutality and in support of Indigenous Australia’s are planned this weekend across the country’s largest cities, and organisers expect thousands to attend.

But Morrison said people should reconsider their planned action due to the threat of spreading coronavirus.

Via Reuters