Colourful Greens councillor Jonathan Sri has been arrested during a protest to prevent asylum seekers being relocated as Queensland's leading health officer hoped the gathering did not spark clusters of COVID-19.
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Cr Sri, who has a law degree, claimed he was 'wrongfully' arrested and detained in a police watch house following the protest in the inner Brisbane suburb of Kangaroo Point.
Supporters of about 120 detainees on Saturday briefly surged past security into the hotel compound in a failed bid to unite one of the asylum seekers with his wife and child.
"I've just been released from the Roma St watch house after being wrongfully arrested while peacefully protesting against the unlawful indefinite detention of refugees," Mr Sri posted on his official councillor for the Gabba Facebook page.
"I'm safe and unhurt, but the reports I've heard of police using violence against other protesters are deeply concerning," Cr Sri wrote.
"I will be providing a full statement to the media on Tuesday morning after seeking legal advice."
It's the second gathering of protesters in as many weeks in Brisbane after some 30,000 gathered in support of the Black Lives Matter movement last weekend.
This time though there were only a few hundred and Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said she was thankful to see protesters make an effort to social distance.
"I wasn't there at the protest but I understand the numbers were much smaller than the weekend before and if they did attempt to spread out a bit more it is very good to see, " Dr Young said.
"I mean it would be very unfortunate that all of the fantastic work done by over five million Queenslanders to date would be undone by a small group."
Supporters of the asylum seekers on Saturday vowed to continue preventing authorities from accessing the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel.
They're demanding the government cease transferring the asylum seekers and return people who've already been moved.
"The reason they are transferring them is because they have caused so much noise," protest spokeswoman Ruby Thorburn told reporters on Saturday.
About 40 men holding signs saying "Where Is Justice" and "Refugees Are Without Crime" stood on the hotel's balconies waving as the protest kicked off.
Some of those at the hotel have been in detention for years after coming to Australia for medical treatment.
The organisers are also demanding the men be granted freedom of movement.
Cr Sri was contacted for comment.
Australian Associated Press
