Australia

Black Lives Matter protests across Australia yesterday proceeded mostly peacefully as thousands of demonstrators in state capitals honoured the memory of George Floyd and protested the deaths of indigenous Australians in custody.

Organisers of the Sydney protest got a late reprieve when their appeal against a Friday ruling declaring the rally unauthorised was granted. The New South Wales Court of Appeal, just 12 minutes before the rally was scheduled to start, gave the green light, meaning those taking part could not be arrested. It appeared to be a moot point as up to 1000 protesters had already gathered in the Town Hall area of downtown Sydney ahead of the decision.

There was one early scuffle when police removed a man who appeared to be a counter protester carrying a sign saying, ‘‘White Lives, Black Lives, All Lives Matter.‘‘

Crowds filled Victoria Square in Adelaide after police gave special permission for the event to proceed despite Covid-19 restrictions.

Commissioner Grant Stevens, who approved the rally, said it was a ‘‘unique and extraordinary event‘‘.

In Brisbane, organisers said about 30,000 people gathered, forcing police to close down two major streets. The rally appeared orderly as police handed out masks to protesters and other officials provided hand sanitisers.

On Friday, 2000 demonstrators gathered in Canberra to remind Australians that the racial inequality underscored by Floyd’s death was not unique to the United States.

‘‘Australians have to understand that what’s been going on the United States has been happening here for a long time,’’ said Matilda House, an elder of the Ngambri-Ngunnawal family group who are traditional owners of the Canberra region.

AAP Pepper spray flies in Central Station, Sydney, as a scuffle breaks out between protesters and police after the Black Lives Matter march yesterday. At least two officers used pepper spray, with up to 30 people in the firing line.