Woman arrested at anti-abortion rally in Sydney

A woman has been arrested in Sydney for disturbing the order at an anti-abortion religious rally.

New South Wales Police confirmed that the protester was detained on Sunday afternoon as the “Unborn Child’s Day” rally passed through Sydney’s CBD.

A police spokesman stated that no charges had been filed and she had complied with instructions to leave the area.

Hundreds of demonstrators were seen singing the Australian national anthem and holding signs, including “Baby Lives Matter”, as they walked from St Mary’s Cathedral to Parliament House.

Led by Sydney Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher, the march is organized by the pro-life organization Sydney Life and Family Institute and takes place annually.

Ahead of the event, organizers of both the rally and planned counter-protests raised concerns about the potential for violence that followed on Tuesday near a Sydney church.

The University of Sydney Women’s Collective released a statement on Saturday evening, canceling a planned counter protest.

“This decision was made not just like that, but collectively, because we believe that this is the right thing for the safety of our team,” the organizers said.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that we cannot secure the action and that instead the threat of violence will drown out our political message.

“This protest is no longer a protest against ordinary participants… It is a protest against an aggressive group of people whose only intention is to cause harm.”

The protesters began marching from St. Mary’s Cathedral at noon and marched past the parliament building.

The protest took place just 25 meters from the Macquarie Street abortion clinic.

Rally organizer Paul Hanrahan wrote on the event’s Facebook page on Thursday urging calm amid fears it would become another flashpoint.

“The police contacted us and [said] they have particular concerns, especially after the clashes between the Rainbow Rights group and hundreds of counter-protesters outside the Mark Latham event in Belfield Parish last night, and the events in Hyde Park last weekend,” he said.

“[Police] assured us that the safety of our group and our right to host our event is their primary concern and they will do everything in their power to ensure this.

“We are not here to interact with the protesters, but to carry our cross.”

The announcements from the organizers of both the rally and the protest came after a violent clash outside St Michael’s Church in Belfield on 21 March.

Violence between religious group Christian Lives Matter activists and transgender rights groups attended church to protest Mark Latham’s speech on parental rights and religious freedom.

The three men, aged 34, 41 and 41, were charged after the incident and will stand trial next month.

The Rainbow Rights Coalition and the University of Sydney Women’s Collective were among the counter protesters.

NSW Police said they would work with groups at Sunday’s anti-abortion rally to keep the peace.

Originally published as Woman arrested at anti-abortion rally in Sydney