Confusing and unplanned directions from NSW Police endanger protestors, elderly protestor with walking stick pushed over by police horse
Legal observers at today’s March for Humanity witnessed actions by the NSW Police that put the participants of the peaceful march in unnecessary risk of crowd crush.
NSW Police changed the route of the march as it was happening. This route had been pre-approved through the Form 1 process by the march organisers and the protest confirmed as authorised by the Supreme Court. Police had not adequately planned for the initial route to North Sydney and there did not appear appear to be a plan if crowd numbers exceeded expectations and made entering and leaving North Sydney difficult.
Police initially stopped the march at the North side of the Bridge and told protestors they would have to turn around and walk back to the city. This created an opportunity for a severe crowd crush to occur on the bridge as few people were being let out on the north side of the bridge, people were still joining the march from the southern side, and no clear directives for action were coming from the NSW Police. Police stated that they aimed to either have people do a u-turn on the northern side of the bridge, or have patrons at the front of the march turn around and head back across the bridge.
Police sent a geotagged text at 3PM asking marchers to stop marching and await further instructions. Police did not seem to communicate clearly amongst themselves regarding their plans and communications with protestors. A protestor reported that around 3.10pm a police officer she asked about the text told her “it’s a scam”. Other protestors who asked officers about the texts at around 3pm were told officers did not know what the plan was and to await further instructions.
A second text message at 3:18pm told protestors to stop walking north and that police would ask everyone to turn around back towards city.
Police on the South side of the Bridge began issuing orders for marchers to walk back to city from a helicopter above them, with the orders not able to be heard properly over the noise of the helicopter. Individual officers were explaining the orders to small groups of protestors, but did not seem to communicate with marshals to explain the orders to them and ask them to communicate with the protesters.
Police on the North side of the Bridge channelled protestors into several confusing routes. Police directed protestors to walk through an active construction site near North Sydney station, with people in wheelchairs forced to move through unsealed muddy road. Protestors who attempted to catch ferries and water taxis from Milsons Point were told by Transport for NSW and taxi staff that police had told ferry and water taxi services to not service Milsons Point until 4pm.
A third text message at 3.35PM told protestors that police would be working with organisers to get everyone off the bridge in a staged manner.
At the end of the march, police formed a large line of 40-50 officers with 6 horses to follow final protestors off the bridge. A police horse riding close to an elderly man with a walking stick pushed him over and another protestor caught him. Police horses were also observed to ride through the crowd and close to people with walking aids, prams and older people. Several people with disabilities and people with small children have shared accounts of their capacity to access public transport being impeded by police during and after the March.
Police pushed legal observers several times and obstructed them from observing.
Accounts of police intimidation have been received by Legal Observers NSW since the March. One is set out below:
“I want to report an instance of intimidation and attempted aggravation at Lang Park at 2:10 this afternoon.
The crowd was being ushered by police to allow an ambulance come through. The crowd was moving aside with no resistance and the ambulance was driving through.
While this was happening, there was one police officer who was pushing march attendees to move out of the way – again this was completely unnecessary, the crowd was moving aside at a reasonable pace and the ambulance was getting through with ease.
After he pushed my friend, I heard another officer say “it would be good if we had a megaphone” in response to that, the first officer said “or shotguns””
Texts received by protestors from NSW Police
Legal Observers NSW 