Thorpe cops it over protest

‘CHEAP’ FLOAT STUNT

INDEPENDENT senator Lidia Thorpe has received condemnation on social media for her protest at Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations.

The senator – who defected from the Greens earlier this month to speak independently for the blak sovereign movement – caused a stir when she marched in the parade on Saturday night.

Senator Thorpe lay down in front of the Australian Federal Police float about 9pm, causing a momentary disruption to the parade.

In a scene captured and shared by fellow revellers on social media, she can be seen lying on the ground while two officers speak to her.

The colourful crowd can be heard telling police to “get rid of her” and “get her up” before what looked to be event organisers or marshals intervening. At one stage, she can be seen visibly swatting away the hand of a police officer.

Social media users were infuriated, labelling the actions a “cheap self-publicity stunt”.

“She’s (got) zero respect for LGBTQIA people. The woman is a disgrace!’” one wrote on Twitter. Several users accused the senator of being an “attention seeker” and “a narcissist”.

“What a disgraceful woman she is,” journalist Peter Ford wrote. “No shock she’d want to disrupt an event about inclusivity.”

When Senator Thorpe did eventually stand up, she can be seen pointing fingers at the two police officers.

One officer can be seen trying to put distance between them as the crowd continues to boo the politician.

“She was later removed from the parade at the request of organisers for breaching the terms of her participation,” a NSW Police statement read.

Many of the derisive comments were aimed at the independent senator after she broke her silence. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the senator said she was “proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float”, putting her stunt in a historical context.

“Black and brown trans women started the first pride march as a protest against police violence,” she wrote.

“Today, we still face violence from police.

“Proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float in Sydney to say #NoPrideInGenocide, #NoPrideInPrisons, and #NoCopsInPride.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became the first sitting PM to march.