Three arrested at Sydney protest against US military’s forcible removal of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela | Australian police and policing
Three people were arrested in Sydney on Sunday evening while protesting the US military intervention in Venezuela.
Nearly 300 people took to the streets of Sydney despite New South Wales police banning public demonstrations, using laws passed in late December after 15 people died and many others were injured on Bondi Beach in an alleged terrorist attack targeting the Hanukkah event.
Anti-protest laws give the state police commissioner the power to issue a “declaration of restriction of public gatherings” following the declaration of a suspected terrorist incident. It can prevent protests and marches from being “permitted” by the police or the courts; This could result in prosecution of protesters who obstruct people or traffic in a public place if their protests are not officially authorized.
Sunday’s protest was one of many in Australian cities condemning US actions in Venezuela following news that US forces had forcibly removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and US president Donald Trump’s claims that the US would take direct control of the country and its oil reserves.
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Protesters in Sydney waved banners saying “Hands off Venezuela” and “Down with imperialism”.
There was also a small group of Venezuelan opposition supporters who celebrated the US intervention, clad in red, blue and yellow, waving photos of Maduro released by the US administration, with the word “captured” superimposed over his image.
NSW police said they attended an “unauthorised protest” on Sydney’s George Street at around 6pm on Sunday evening, involving around 40 counter-protesters as well as 250 people.
A 53-year-old woman was arrested for wearing a shirt with “offensive messages”, police claim.
Two men, one 26 years old and one 34 years old, were arrested for allegedly disturbing the peace.
All three were taken to the Day Street police station and released at the end of the protest, police said. No charges were made.
Right-wing agitator Drew Pavlou claimed on social media that he was one of those arrested and circulated footage showing him chanting pro-US slogans among protesters before being forcibly removed by a large group of police.
In Melbourne, about 200 people packed the steps of Melbourne’s Flinders Street station and shouted “shame” when speakers said the Venezuelan president had been “kidnapped”.
“Release Maduro now! No regime change!” They carried banners saying: and “No war for oil! Solidarity with the Venezuelan people”.
One speaker said Maduro had been “demonized” and rubbished allegations that he had rigged the election and had ties to drug trafficking.
“This is the clearest example of open propaganda, and its main role is to soften ordinary people to the idea of regime change in Venezuela,” he told the crowd.
Anti-US protesters said they supported Venezuelans defending their sovereignty and demanded the Australian government cut ties and impose sanctions on the US administration.
Victoria police said no incidents were reported at the event.
According to the 2021 census, Australia is home to more than 6,600 Venezuelan-born people, of whom approximately 10,000 are of Venezuelan descent.
The Australian Venezuelan Association said there would be mixed emotions in the diaspora, with many experiencing forced separation from loved ones, exile and the long-term effects of authoritarian rule.
“In moments like these, our common hope remains for a free, democratic and united Venezuela where people can live with dignity, security and opportunity,” the association said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy to avoid tensions while his government monitors the situation.
