On Today’s BLM Sydney March (Updated).

Whoever sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother.

Last night the NSW Supreme Court banned the Sydney-wide march “Stop All Black Deaths in Custody: Rally and Vigil for George Floyd and David Dungay”, scheduled for today (1500 AEST, Town Hall). The courts’ decision upheld concerns from both state and federal CMOs, Kerry Chant and Brendan Murphy respectively, and political authorities over COVID-19 transmission.

However, authorities in smaller towns in NSW have given local marches the green light, presumably because they expect to attract fewer attendants, consequently lessening the risk of contagion.

Workers (especially socialist workers) concerned with the environment bear testimony First Nations have supported environmental and working people’s protests. It’s time for us to reciprocate.

A way to support them is by attending the march in spite of it being banned. But I will neither ask you to do that, nor ask you to abstain. It’s not by job to issue orders.

I will instead suggest one way to help is to hear what they themselves have to say on their own behalf. Besides, they have their own suggestions on how we can support them.

Good luck, comrades of all races.

Update:

David Shoebridge, the Greens NSW state parliament MP, just announced that the legal team assisting the Sydney BLM march organisers launched a last ditch appeal against the Supreme Court’s decision. (Of the parties represented in Parliament, whether at state or federal level, only the Greens have given their full support to the BLM)

The Adelaide march, according to ABC 24, is about to start; the Wagga Wagga local event just ended peacefully.

School Strike 4 Climate Australia and Extinction Rebellion have gone into online hibernation for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. They have, however, compiled a list of resources useful to those willing to support the BLM.

Two links they offer: One, and Two.

2nd Update:

David Shoebridge announced a little before 1500 AEST that the NSW Court of Appeals ruled the Sydney-wide protest was authorised.

For national coverage:

(source)