Thousands rally against racism in Adelaide

July 2020

Thousands of people protested across Australia early June to oppose the deaths of Indigenous people in police custody.

They followed Black Lives Matter protests held around the world in recent weeks after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in the US state of Minneapolis.

Thousands of people marched in Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and at regional rallies.

Big crowds also gathered later Saturday afternoon for protests in Melbourne and Sydney — after the New South Wales Court of Appeal ruled in favour of a last-ditch attempt to lawfully authorise a Sydney protest.

The last-minute decision meant those marching in Sydney were immune from prosecution for breaching public health orders.

Tens of thousands people turned up to the rally, with organisers and volunteers seen handing out masks and pumping hand sanitiser into the hands of attendees.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

Shanaya Donovan, a Gadigal woman, said she attended the protests despite the potential to be fined or jailed because she was constantly racially profiled.

"I’ve been followed around in Kmart, looking like I’m going to steal something," she said.

"I’ve learned I have to go in my work uniform, so it doesn’t look like I’m going to take anything. I get stared at by police when I’m in public."

In Adelaide, it is estimated that thousands turned out to the rally held at Victoria Square in the CBD, with many people seen wearing face masks.

State Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Friday granted an exemption from coronavirus restrictions for the rally to go ahead.