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One of Luke Davies’ closest friends unleashed a scathing attack on anti-police protesters, accusing them of using his alleged death to “hijack a national tragedy”.
More than 100 far-left ‘Pride Protest’ activists descended on Taylor Square in Sydney’s CBD in the run-up to Mardi Gras on Friday night to ‘demand an end to police violence’.
The chaotic scenes unfolded a week after NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged with the murder of Davies and her boyfriend, TV presenter Jesse Baird.
In a statement before the demonstration, ‘Pride in Protest’ mentioned the couple’s name and demanded ‘an end to police violence’, which it said included the alleged ‘murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird.’
“Luke wouldn’t support this,” his friend Dean Bailey said on ABC’s 7.30. “I feel like they’ve almost appropriated a national tragedy just to promote a cause they already had.”
“We found it a little hurtful that they were trying to use Lukey as a motive,” Mr. Bailey said.
Pride in Protest activists (right) were accused of “hijacking a national tragedy” following the tragic deaths of Luke Davies and Jesse’s Baird.
Jesse Baird (right) and her new boyfriend Luke Davies (left) were allegedly murdered at Baird’s Paddington home on February 19.
He also criticized Mardi Gras organizers for initially preventing New South Wales police from taking part in Saturday night’s parade.
He who had written to them to convey his strong disapproval of their original action of excluding the police.
He described the decision as a “knee-jerk reaction to a small vocal group.”
‘I know Lukey wouldn’t support the decision Mardi Gras had initially made. It’s something Luke wouldn’t have wanted.
‘I don’t think one (alleged) bad apple should contaminate the entire police force.
“To say that (the police ban) was done in his honor is nothing short of offensive to him and his legacy.”
Although event organizers reversed the police ban and allowed officers to participate but out of uniform, Bailey says he received no response.
A letter Dean Bailey wrote to Mardi Gras organizers after they banned police officers from marching in the parade, before reversing the decision.
One of Luke Davies’ closest friends, Dean Bailey (pictured left with Luke), said his late friend would not have supported the actions of anti-police protesters or Mardi Gras organizers who originally banned officers participate in the parade on Saturday night.
“I know Lukey wouldn’t support the decision that Mardi Gras had initially made,” he said.
Pro-Palestinian protesters also disrupted Mardi Gras celebrations during Saturday night’s parade near where New South Wales Premier Chris Minns was participating.
One man and seven women have since been charged and will appear in court later this month.