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Protesters in Sydney have vowed to return for ‘Invasion Day’ rallies on 26 January after being dispersed at a rally against Indigenous deaths in custody on Sunday.
In the lead-up to the event, demonstrators said they were planning to march in defiance of the NSW government’s controversial new protest laws.
However, moments before protesters were set to depart Hyde Park, police told event organiser Paul Silva to request that the crowd “disperse in a peaceful and orderly manner”.
Silva then instructed the crowd — comprising around 200 people, according to the Australian Associated Press — that he thought it would be “the safest option if we disperse”.
“I don’t want anyone being attacked. I don’t want anyone being attacked and, unfortunately, these laws will allow that,” Silva said.
Following the Bondi terror attack, NSW passed new legislation giving the state’s police commissioner the power to restrict protests for up to three months after a designated terrorist incident.
