Scott Morrison Slams Protestors Planning On Attending Black Lives Matter Rally In Sydney

Australia's Prime Minister has laid into hundreds of people planning on attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney next week.

Organisers insist the event will be coronavirus safe, however NSW Police are hoping to get the Supreme Court to rule it illegal.

In the meantime, Scott Morrison has given the hosts and the people attending it a piece of his mind.

PA

Speaking to 2GB Radio, the Prime Minister said: "I just think that's appalling. What gives people a ticket to not obey the law?

"Where the State Government has said that there is a mass gathering that can't go ahead, well people should obey the law."

Authorities have estimated as many as 1,000 people have said they will be going to the march.

Despite concerns for people's health and safety, organiser Paddy Gibson believes there will be systems in place to ensure people don't catch or spread the coronavirus.

Speaking to The Today Show, Gibson told the hosts they have dotted every I and crossed every T in terms of being Covid-safe.

Gibson told the Channel 9 programme: "We believe we can hold a protest that is Covid-safe, certainly as safe as many commercial activities happening in Sydney every day, involving thousands of people congregating in shopping centres, marketplaces [and] sporting grounds.

"The prime minister attended a football ground with thousands of people last weekend."

Scott Morrison was criticised after photos emerged of him supporting the Cronulla Sharks at an NRL match.

Many people pointed out how parts of Victoria had been locked down due to a second wave of coronavirus infections and said the Prime Minister wasn't being considerate towards other citizens who might not be able to leave their neighbourhoods.

PA

Gibson also told The Today Show that the Black Lives Matter protest 'has to happen right now because the world is finally listening'.

There were mass rallies held around Australia and across the globe last month following the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US. However, Gibson believes we need to keep the pressure on.

He said Australians are already mixing with each other at sporting matches, restaurants, pubs and shopping centres and this rally would be no different. He insists people will socially distance themselves from other protesters and everyone will be encouraged to wear a mask.

That's if the event goes ahead.

Topics: Black Lives Matter, News, Coronavirus, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie