NSW pleads with BLM protesters: Pause your ‘democratic rights’ until COVID ends

Описание: More than 1000 reckless Black Lives Matter protesters planning to demonstrate in Sydney next week are being urged to pause their "democratic right" to assemble until Australia solves the COVID-19 crisis.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard pleaded with protesters not to attend the demonstration.

“If we didn’t need to remember just how dangerous this could be from messages from overseas, we only need to look to our southern border,” he said.

“Please don’t do that, please.

“Let’s just get this COVID-19 under control, right across our country, and then it’s the time for us to express our democratic rights.”

NSW on Thursday announced 19 new cases of the virus and in Victoria’s update there were 403 new cases and five deaths.

Protest organisers have asked people who choose to attend the rally to come prepared with a mask, hand sanitiser, practice social distancing and avoid public transport.

But when protest organiser Padraic Gibson was asked about who would take responsibility if a breach occurred at the protest, he said: “When you come to a protest demonstration there is an element of risk involved in that, but for many, many people this is a very important issue and we’re going to be doing everything we can to provide the safest environment possible”.

NSW Police is trying desperately to block the protest through the Supreme Court.

This week NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told Sky News the protest planned for 28 July could set the state’s economic recovery back by a decade if it sparked fresh outbreaks.

Image: News Corp Australia