BRAWLING IN SYDNEY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29165, 28 March 1960, Page 19

BRAWLING IN SYDNEY

Demonstrators, Police, Clash

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, March 25. Wild brawling scenes developed in Martin place. Sydney, late today when police attempted to break up a demonstration by university students and unionists in protest against the recent South African native shootings. Demonstrators fought with pedestrians and policed Women were knocked to the ground in the disturbance which disrupted peakhour traffic. Police later arrested two men, a 32-year-old seaman and a 25-year-old electrician on charges of joining an unlawful demonstration and obstructing pedestrians. They will appear in the Central Police Court on Monday, The demonstrators were formed by university students, the Waterside Workers’, Seamen’s and Building Workers’ Unions and the Eureka League. Thirty police went to Martin place when the 50 demonstrators blocked pedestrian traffic and spilled onto the roadway. Women were knocked to the ground when detectives chased a student through the thick crowds. Police broke up the demonstration in about 15 minutes. Police tore sandwich board placards from the shoulders of several men.

Other demonstrators distributed leaflets among the crowds. The leaflets protested against the “coldblooded murder” of 72 Africans by police in South Africa on Monday. One of the student leaders, Paddy McGuinness, aged 21, said later that a similar demonstration would be held in the city "some time next week.” He said “the police were very offensive. We were breaking no laws by banding out leaflets.”