“A wake-up call for the cops”: Sydney protester Danny Lim released from hospital
Well-known Sydney activist Danny Lim has been released from hospital after injuries to his head and face during an attempted arrest by police that sparked outcry.
The 78-year-old, recognised by many for his sandwich board signs bearing political messages, was hospitalised after officers tried to arrest him for failing to “comply with a move-on order” at the Queen Victoria Building on Tuesday.
Criminal lawyer Chris Murphy, a lawyer at the firm that represents Mr Lim, confirmed that he had been released from St Vincent’s Hospital on Thursday with “a plan in place for ongoing monitoring”.
Danny Lim has been released from hospital with a plan in place for ongoing monitoring. Thank you staff at St Vincent’s Darlinghurst for the loving care.Thank you to the community for your love & support, hope to get our happy icon back with his smiles and his signs. #beautiful pic.twitter.com/k4ZclbOCyg
— chris murphy (@chrismurphys) November 23, 2022
“Thank you staff at St Vincent’s Darlinghurst for the loving care,” he wrote on social media.
"Thank you to the community for your love and support, hope to get our happy icon back with his smiles and his signs."
Mr Murphy also shared footage of the incident and updates on the activist’s health, with the SBS reporting that Mr Lim was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma on Wednesday.
"Internal skull damage diagnose(d)," Mr Murphy said on Twitter.
Mr Lim was wearing a sign that read ‘Smile cvn’t! Why cvn’t?’ while walking through Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building on Tuesday when security told him to leave.
Police were called and confronted the protester, with footage taken by a witness showing Mr Lim being tripped and pushed down by two officers, falling head-first onto the tiled floor and being handcuffed.
When Mr Lim was picked up off the tiled floor, blood could be seen on the ground and on his cheek, and officers “discontinued” the arrest.
Speaking to Guardian Australia from hospital, Mr Lim said he had asked police to call an ambulance and informed them he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I told them to ring an ambulance,” he said on Tuesday.
“They refused.
“I could be dead when they threw me down like that.”
Businessman Mike Ashley, a witness to the altercation, told the outlet that he noticed the hearted confrontation and heard Mr Lim repeatedly asked officers to call an ambulance.
Mr Ashley said Lim had been begging for an ambulance to be called before he was thrown to the ground.
“He let them know very clearly that he had PTSD, and that he needed an ambulance,” Mr Ashley said.
“He voiced that very clearly at the outset. He became increasingly agitated as they approached him.”
But, when Mr Ashley said he was threatened by officers when he tried to intervene and asked Mr Lim if he should call an ambulance.
“The officer … said, ‘If you do that, we will charge you with hindering an arrest,’” he said.
“It didn’t seem like the sort of thing that you might use to de-escalate [the] situation.”
Following the incident, the actions officers took during the arrest will be subject to an independent review.
In a statement, police said Mr Lim had failed to comply with move-on orders from security and officers.
"Police will allege the man was subsequently issued with a move on direction by officers and failed to comply," they said.
"The man's arrest was discontinued after he struggled with police and sustained an injury to his cheekbone ...
"As inquiries into the incident continue, an independent review has been launched, which will examine the actions of police during the incident."
His recent arrest has been condemned by many online and by politicians, including the NSW Greens.
"The actions by the NSW Police yesterday were completely out of line and an indication of just how dangerous new police powers are to the vulnerable in our society," Greens MP Sue Higginson said on Wednesday.
"This type of violent arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere."
Independent member Alex Greenwich told Crikey the incident was “deeply concerning” and an example of “over-policing”.
“Sydneysiders have a great deal of affection for Danny Lim and people know who he is and that he is a peaceful protester and a harmless person. It’s deeply concerning to see over-policing, let alone over-policing leading to someone being injured,” he said.
“I hope this is a wake-up call for the cops and I obviously hope that Danny has a full recovery.”
Today after being smashed into the floor by New South Wales Police. Internal skull damage diagnose. #DannyLim pic.twitter.com/Cc5IvO3nP9
— chris murphy (@chrismurphys) November 22, 2022
Amnesty International Australia said they had documented incidents where police used force against people, like Mr Lim, who were expressing their right to freedom of expression and hoped NSW Police would follow through on holding an independent review.
“People like 78-year-old Danny Lim should be free to express themselves without fearing injury,” the organisation said.
Mr Lim has previously been arrested and fined $500 for wearing the same sign, but was deemed to be allowed to wear it after a successful court case in 2019.
Magistrate Jaqueline Milledge ruled at the time in favour of Mr Lim, saying “the police action was heavy-handed and unnecessary” and ruling that the signs may be cheeky but weren’t criminally offensive.
Image: Twitter