This is the shocking moment a protester at a Christian Lives Matter protest was shot down by police during a confrontation with LGBTQ activists outside a church in Sydney.
The man wearing a tracksuit top and shorts was pushed to the ground and handcuffed by police officers at St Michaels Church in Belfield, where NSW Upper House MP Mark Latham was speaking as other protesters pushed the police officers.
Cries of ‘fucking gays’ can be heard in a clip of the protest.
Two police officers tried to hold the protester down, while others from the Christian group charged into the line of police officers that separated them from the LGBTQ rights protesters.
Up to 500 Christian protesters violently clashed with an LGBTQ activist group outside the church Tuesday night, and at least two people were led away in handcuffs.
Inside the church, Mr Latham, the New South Wales One Nation leader, spoke about parental and religious rights ahead of Saturday’s state election.
A group of about 15 members of the LGBTQ+ activist group Community Action for Rainbow Rights had come to the church to protest the speech, claiming it was ‘anti-trans’.
But instead, they were greeted by a mob of Christian Lives Matter supporters, who they claim hurled rocks and bottles at them.
This is the shocking moment a protester at a Christian Lives Matter protest was shot down by police during a clash with an LGBTQ rally in Sydney.
Two police officers tried to hold the protester down, while others from the Christian group charged into the line of police officers that separated them from the LGBTQ rights protesters (pictured).
Police said the large crowd was also throwing glass bottles at officers, and one officer was taken to Canterbury Hospital with cuts to his hand.
The terrifying clash was captured on film and showed the Christian group yelling insults at the activists.
At one point, a man is seen throwing a punch into the crowd, only for it to connect with the back of a woman’s head.
She is then heard screaming and crying as a friend puts his arm around her.
Police said the large crowd was also throwing glass bottles at officers, and one officer was taken to Canterbury Hospital with cuts to his hand.
Latham addressed the event Tuesday night and said police had advised him not to speak.
“Not giving my speech, going straight home would have allowed transgender protesters to cancel my free speech and democratic rights as an election candidate, things that are sacred to me and have been for 35 years in local, federal elections.” and State,’ she tweeted.
“I did not see what happened on the main street, but I sincerely convey my best wishes to the injured and thank the police officers involved for their work.”
‘Nobody should take the law into their own hands. Violence at political events is wrong.
Hundreds of Christians clashed with an LGBTQ activist group outside a church in Sydney on Tuesday. A cameraman is seen being pushed to the ground during the chaos.
Mr. Latham emphasized that he did not organize the event, but was invited to speak.
Speaking to 2GB on Wednesday morning, Latham said politicians should be allowed to speak without the groups blocking roads and access to the church.
“There was no need for what happened on the front lines, it diminishes our democracy and it is better that we resolve our differences at the ballot box,” he said.
‘This is a really bad development in our system, who would go into politics when this is what they are facing now?
“Get out of here,” a large man yells before attacking (pictured)
‘Transgender activists threatening to block the road and access to the church, that was wrong.
But keep your hands to yourself, don’t be violent.
During the chaos, a cameraman was pushed to the ground by a Christian protester as he tried to push his way through the crowd.
“Get out of here,” a burly man yells before lunging at him.
He is then pushed again by another man before being thrown to the ground as a swarm of men stood over him in a circle.
Community Action for Rainbow Rights claimed that the religious mob brutally attacked its members.
Shortly after the ugly scenes, Mark Latham denounced the ‘violent’ behavior
The cameraman was pushed again by another man before being thrown to the ground as a swarm of men stood over him in a circle.
“Hundreds of violent far-right thugs attacked a peaceful small talk of LGBTI+ activists with glass bottles, rocks and their fists,” the group wrote on Facebook.
“Several people were punched multiple times in the face and hit with rocks and bottles while surrounded by a crowd 30 times their size.
“This is a disgusting and violent escalation by far-right anti-LGBTI+ protesters.”
The group shared a video that they said was filmed by one of the Christian Lives Matter members who encouraged protesters to grab the activists “and drag them by the fucking hair.”
“Go there tomorrow and shake them off, drag them by the head and get them out of St Michael’s Belfield.”
The NSW Police riot squad eventually had to be called in, with a 34-year-old man arrested and charged with encouraging the commission of offences.
He was given a conditional bond to appear in Bankstown Local Court on April 11.
A 41-year-old man was arrested and charged with common assault. He was given a court attendance notice to appear in Bankstown Local Court on May 30.
Anyone with insight into or information about the fight is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.
