NSW police pepper spray protesters at Sydney rally opposing Isaac Herzog’s visit

New South Wales police pepper sprayed protesters at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, as hundreds attempted to march in defiance of a state law. Thousands also protested in Melbourne against Herzog’s four-day visit, with some clashing with police; Victoria police appeared to use pepper spray on at least one protester.

Thousands gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall, where Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame addressed the crowd. Three NSW Labor backbenchers defied the premier to attend. More than an hour after the protest started, organisers and police held tense conversations as demonstrators tried to negotiate to march despite NSW laws passed after the Bondi terror attack preventing protesters from doing so.

Protesters beat drums and yelled “let us march”. As they tried to move, police pepper sprayed the crowd; people near the front ran back, coughing and spluttering, while those who were sprayed poured water over their eyes.

Australia, Sydney, Melbourne

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