By Simon Smale
Impact of protest on coronavirus spread won’t be known for at least a week, authorities say
Back home for a minute and authorities in Victoria have said that it will take a week or so to see if the Black Lives Matter protests will have an impact on the rate of coronavirus infections.
Many of the 10,000 Black Lives Matter protesters wore masks and gloves while marching in Melbourne, but many did not follow health advice to stay 1.5 metres apart.
By Simon Smale
Trump says crowd “smaller than expected”
US President Donald Trump has claimed the crowd in Washington was “much smaller’ than expected.
However, the AP reported that the Washington protest appeared to be the largest in the country, with “streams” of protesters flooding streets.
Reuters similarly reported that the Lincoln Memorial rally and march to the White House marked the largest outpouring yet of protests nationwide.
Inside the White House, protesters chants and cheers could be heard in waves.
The US President, who urged authorities to crack down on unrest, had no public events.
By Simon Smale
Late curfew passes, still they March in Washington, New York
It’s just gone 11pm in the eastern states of the USA, and the crowds are continuing to march.
This is the scene in Washington DC at the moment.
And in New York, this is what’s happening.
Sydney protest ‘big victory for Aboriginal people,’ organisers say
One of the main organisers of a Sydney rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement has called the day “a big victory” for Indigenous rights, while predicting it would give momentum for similar demonstrations in the future.
More than 20,000 people took part in a mostly peaceful march in Australia’s largest city to raise awareness about George Floyd’s death under US police arrest, while focusing on Aboriginal rights and deaths in custody at home.
The crowd chanted “I can’t breathe”, the final words uttered repeatedly by Mr Floyd and 26-year-old Dunghutti man David Dungay Jr, who died at Sydney’s Long Bay jail in 2015.
The Sydney rally, which coincided with large gatherings in Melbourne and Brisbane, only went ahead legally on Saturday after a Supreme Court ruling was overturned minutes before its scheduled start.
“It was a big victory for Aboriginal people,” Raul Bassi, secretary of the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), told the ABC.
“It shows what’s possible, and how Aboriginal people can reach the things they want to reach, and exercise their rights.”
Mr Bassey said the organisers insisted that people socially distance during the protest.
“The rally was very disciplined, with people were keeping their space with the pandemic in mind. We were insistent on that.”
Reporting by Jason Dacey
Seattle protests continue
A ninth consecutive day of protests is underway in Seattle, with a large crowd of medical workers demonstrating against racism and police brutality.
Thousands of doctors, nurses and others marched from Harborview Medical Center to City Hall on Saturday morning. Many wore lab coats and scrubs.
The recent demonstrations in Seattle have been among the largest the city has seen in years.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Saturday she is encouraging protesters to be tested for COVID-19 after the city and King County public health departments expanded testing criteria to cover asy