Australians defy virus in mass anti-racism rallies
Tens of thousands of people have protested across Australia to get the Black Lives Matter movement.
Rallies were held despite warnings from officials over the coronavirus.
A ban in Sydney was lifted only at the last second and some organizers have already been fined for breaking health rules.
The marches were inspired by the death of African American George Floyd in police custody but also highlighted the mistreatment and marginalization of Australia's Aboriginal people.
Rallies were organised in Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and elsewhere.
These were held in high spirits with no reports of major unrest.
There have been a few tense scenes later at night at Sydney's Central Station, with police using pepper spray, but there were only three arrests in the town overall, among a complete of 20,000 protesters, police said.
Although the rallies were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, many in Australia were also protesting against the treatment of its indigenous population by police.
Banners reading "I cannot breathe" remembered the words of Floyd before his death, while another said: "Same story, different soil."
The Sydney protest had been ruled unlawful on Friday by the brand new South Wales Supreme Court under coronavirus social distancing rules.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott had said: "Freedom of speech isn't as free as we wish it to be right now. Rules are actually clear."
But organizers took the case to the state court of appeal and it overturned the ban on Saturday afternoon, just a quarter-hour prior to the scheduled start.
The protest was authorized for 5,000 people. Health ministry directions would normally prohibit public gatherings greater than 10 people.
