Thousands of people have gathered in Perth and Darwin in defiance of health orders to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and protest against Indigenous deaths in custody.
The rally at Langley Park in Perth on Saturday drew thousands of people, with the turnout at least double the 8,000 organisers had expected despite a torrential downpour midway through the event.
Organisers ignored West Australian Premier Mark McGowan's pleas to delay the protest until after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had called for people who protested this weekend after more than .
Attendees were asked to bring their own water, face masks and hand sanitiser, and stand 1.5 metres apart if they are from different households.
More than 11,000 face masks were donated by the local Chinese community for the event.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson warned any violence would be met with "strong policing", but authorities said there were no incidents to report from the protest which included a march through the city.
Carly Lane, the Indigenous wife of health minister and deputy premier Roger Cook, was among the attendees despite the government urging people not to go.
Protesters participate in a Black Lives Matter rally at Langley Park in Perth, Saturday, June 12, 2020 Source: AAP
Perth police charged a man on Friday after the Captain James Stirling statue on Hay Street outside Town Hall was spray-painted.
The statue's neck and hands were painted red and an Aboriginal flag was painted over the inscription at the base.
A 30-year-old North Beach man is due to face the Perth Magistrates Court at an unspecified date charged with criminal damage or destruction of property.
In Darwin, about one thousand people gathered on Saturday morning at Civic Park before slowly marching through the central business district.
The crowd was peaceful and followed police instructions throughout the march.
Some carried signs that read "colour is not a crime" and "no room for racism" and chanted “I can’t breathe", the last words of George Floyd before he died in May at the hands of Minneapolis police in the US.
Protesters gathered peacefully to march through Darwin's CBD. Source: SBS News/Aneeta Bhole
This is the second weekend Australia has seen Black Lives Matter rallies go ahead, despite warnings from politicians and health officials that it was unsafe to protest due to coronavirus.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner had said the protest could go ahead as organisers had submitted a "COVID-safe plan", which was a requirement for any gathering over 500 people.
It has been 41 days since the NT recorded its last coronavirus case.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
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With AAP, Aneeta Bhole and Jarni Blakkarly.
