<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There have been fresh tensions in Sydney tonight as hundreds gathered to demand police face consequences over alleged brutality whilst controlling a protest at Town Hall yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Twenty-seven people were arrested last night, nine people have been charged, and five people were hospitalised after clashes between police and protesters at where about 30,000 people had gathered in opposition to Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Premier Chris Minns said the police response was "proportionate" to the situation, while Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said his officers showed "remarkable restraint".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/thomas-sewell-neonazi-claims-he-was-provoked-before-alleged-attack/b74c07a2-f76d-4a8a-966d-b767760a7e27" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Neo-Nazi claims he was provoked before alleged attack on Indigenous site</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But police have drawn widespread criticism after footage emerged appearing to show officers punching protesters, pulling Muslim men mid-prayer and spraying capsicum spray, with Greens MP Sue Higginson referring the actions of police to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This afternoon, hundreds gathered at a snap protest at Harmony Park near the Surry Hills Police Station to protest what they claimed was police brutality.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is not a police state, we have a right to demonstrate," Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees led the crowd in chants.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-protest-pro-palestine-police-response/cdfcde98-83ed-4061-a729-85539e52e684" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reprieve-for-man-after-explicit-death-threat-to-pm/15cf83bb-d125-4f82-92da-b1dd4ab8ad69" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Reprieve for man after explicit death threat to PM</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Protesters demanded that Minns resign and all charges against protesters be dropped. The mention of Minns drew loud boos from the crowd. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>People held signs reading "stop police brutality", "too many coppas, never any justice", "stop the violence" and "this is not America".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hundreds of police officers, some mounted on horses, stood ready outside the station.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A police line formed up against protesters, causing tensions to escalate and shouts from the crowd. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Organisers urged protesters to disperse to avoid repeating scenes from yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite the tensions, the crowd eventually thinned, apparently without incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/capital-gains-tax-discount-24000-millionaires-pocketed-half-the-gains-oxfam-australia-finds/d08e4b7a-1814-460c-b697-654ecd3cd517" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Nearly half of the capital gains tax discount went to just 24,000 people</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Greens MP Abigail Boyd said she was left "sore and battered" after being confronted by police during yesterday's protest, sharing an image of herself in a neck brace on social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her colleague, Newtown MP Jenny Leong, said she was pepper-sprayed while trying to leave the rally.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Several Labor MPs, including Anthony D'Adam, Stephen Lawrence, Sarah Kaine and Cameron Murphy, also attended the Town Hall protest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ai-at-work-policy-termination-exclusive-poll/428a1505-b2e9-45e8-918d-14cdbe630b8a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Aussie workers could risk losing their jobs with this AI blunder</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns said while their presence was "politically inconvenient", he would not fire them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I accept it's politically inconvenient and perhaps embarrassing, but we won't change our position in relation to this," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm not going to pursue an endless loop of sacking people because they don't agree with the government's position.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If they didn't break the law, if they listened to police instructions, yes, it's politically inconvenient, but it's not hate speech and not a breach of the law."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-donald-trump-clemency-testimony-congress-howard-lutnick-usa-politics-news/d2e0f01b-45e5-48b4-a22e-4b832c8dc95f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Ghislaine Maxwell offers to exonerate Trump if she's let out of prison</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Albanese said footage of yesterday's protests will be examined and appropriate action will be taken.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Many people who saw the footage, particularly of the people who were praying, and the action taken, will want to know all of the circumstances around that," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I will allow the police to do their job."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Muslim and pro-Palestine advocacy groups have demanded an apology and promised not to back down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sovereign-citizen-movement-serious-threat-for-australia-lowy-institute-warns/5c4c6d74-7015-4994-bd6b-2a6e90945c9a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Sovereign citizen' movement now a major security threat, warn experts</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, across Sydney this evening, Herzog and Albanese attended a service at the Chabad of Bondi.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Herzog addressed the Jewish community in attendance to pay tribute to the 15 people killed in the December 14 terrorist attack at Bondi.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Their absence has torn a gaping hole in the hearts of the Jewish people," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I see it in your faces, I hear it in the trembling voices. This is the home of a community in bereavement and mourning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My wife Michal and I have come here from Jerusalem on behalf of your sisters and brothers in Israel and across the Jewish world to mourn with you, to weep with you, to stand with you, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>