Around the same time as angry truck drivers were staging a protest convoy across Sydney Harbor Bridge and Anzac Bridge, a rally in a Sydney Covid hotspot also erupted.

This was in response to rapid changes in Covid-19 restrictions in NSW with dozens of protesters flooding a community park in Bankstown, southwest Sydney, where residents were hit with tougher restrictions.

In a TikTok video, protesters could be heard chanting “Freedom, Freedom”, “No to the vaccine” and “P *** off Gladys” as they marched through Paul Keating Park at around 4 pm Saturday.

The rally was organized via social media and was expected to draw a huge crowd, but those who showed up were overwhelmed by police.

NSW Police have confirmed two people have been charged, declaring the protest illegal.

“Two people have since been charged and 8 more Sanction Violation Notices (PINs) issued for breaching the state’s public health order after an unauthorized protest in southwest Sydney this afternoon.” , said an NSW police statement.

Six men – aged 29, 19, 55, 24, 17 and 35, and two women, aged 24 and 26 – all received a PIN after allegedly refusing to leave the area, while a man of 57 a 36-year-old and a 1-year-old woman were arrested

“In addition, the 24-year-old man has been given a notice of future court appearance for possession of a prohibited drug, while the 35-year-old man has been charged with offenses of offensive behavior and offensive language,” he continued. communicated.

“The man and woman were taken to Bankstown Police Station, where the man was charged with disobeying public health order, disobeying instructions given by a police officer, and being in custody. view of a knife in a public place. “

He was denied bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday July 18.

Meanwhile, the woman was charged with violating a public health order and was granted bail to appear in Bankstown local court on Thursday, September 2.