LEGAL OBSERVER REPORT

PAG rally Sydney Town Hall 5:30pm Monday 9 February 2026

LONSW observed the following at the ‘Protest Israel’s President’ march at Sydney Town Hall on Monday 9 February 2026.

High visibility policing with early and disproportionate escalation tactics 

Police encircled Town Hall Square at all entrances to enclose the protest and block protesters from gathering in front of Town Hall. Police then closed off access to the protest at all entrance points, refusing people to pass through the line. Police directed an older person in a wheelchair to go up stairs in order to enter the rally instead of letting them pass through the police line.

Police created a dangerous crowd crush with horses, causing several injuries, including severe bruising. A picture of the bruising is attached.

At one point police pushed protestors onto the light rail tracks, with the light rail still operating.

Police continued pursuing protestors into the city. Video footage shows approximately 50 police, mostly riot squad but including some general duties, chasing a group of protesters up Bathurst St approx 8:30pm. https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/1qzztxe/police_chase_protesters_in_bathurst_st/?rdt=55886

Police assaulted individuals not affiliated with the rally

• A person sitting at an outdoor table was arrested by police after heckling them as they walked past. The police tightened his handcuffs enough to break his skin. Eventually the person was released. A picture of the skin breakage is attached.
• A person passing by the rally was caught up in a police assault and hit their head

Use of pepper spray 

• Several protestors’ goggles were ripped off their face by police so that police could pepper spray them in the eyes
• Police handcuffed a man who had been pepper sprayed and was in severe distress. They only removed the handcuffs after about 10 minutes 

Protestors were kicked and punched by police including in situations in which they were complying with police directions or assisting others

• One protestor was standing on the footpath helping a person who was pepper sprayed. Police ran up to them and began kicking them and telling them to move. 
• Several protestors received scratches and bruises from police conduct.

Police did not assist protestors in custody who were asking for medical help or in pain

• LOs witnessed a man in distress in a police custody vehicle screaming repeatedly for help. The man said his cuffs were too tight and was ignored by police
• LOs witnessed a man screaming for a medic while being led into a vehicle by police. He was put in a holding space in the vehicle and LOs did not witness him receive medical assistance.

Legal observers were obstructed and assaulted

One legal observer was punched by police

2 legal observers were pepper sprayed by police in the face. Police pulled off the legal observer’s goggles to pepper spray them in the eyes.