Oxford Street, Sydney: Police clash with protestors in tense scenes on the eve of Mardi Gras celebrations

More than a hundred protestors have descended on Sydney's CBD to demand an end to police violence on the eve of Mardi Gras celebrations. 

Police were called to Flinders Street near Oxford Street after Pride in Protest demonstrators staged an anti-police protest at around 8.30pm on Friday. 

Traffic was forced to a standstill as dozens of people gathered to wave flags and chant 'police go home' while officers stood just metres away. 

At one point officers were forced to physically push the group backwards after several protestors tried to shove past police towards the street. 

'This is a march demanding an end to police violence, ranging from the murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird to Blak (sic) deaths in custody like (in 2009 of Indigenous trans woman) Veronica Baxter,' Pride in Protest said in a statement. 

Footage posted to X by senior SBS reporter Brian Thompson showed protestors gathered at the busy intersection in the CBD.  

One of the protestors sat on the driver's ute before she was told to get off by an officer as police began to slowly disperse the group. 

At one point a bearded driver who claimed to be Palestinian was heard shouting at the protestors before police were able to calm him down. 

Live Traffic NSW issued an alert urging motorists to be aware of changed traffic conditions due to an ongoing police operation the area. 

A spokesperson from NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that officers cleared the road after they instructed the protestors to move on. 

'Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command with the assistance of police from other commands directed the crowd onto the footpath,' they said. 

'A short time later the crowd dispersed from the location where about 50 people then encroached onto Goulburn Street, outside Surry Hills Police Station, where officers again directed them off the roadway after several minutes'. 

No one was injured or arrested, with no damage to property reported.

The protest is understood to have concluded at 9.06pm. 

The latest protest comes as thousands of people prepare to march on Oxford Street on Saturday night as part of Sydney's annual Mardi Gras parade. 

NSW Police had previously been uninvited to attend by the organisers of the event on Monday following the arrest of senior constable Beaumont Lamarre-Condon. 

Police allege Lamarre-Condon, 28, murdered ex-Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird and flight attendant Luke Davies at Mr Baird's Paddington home on February 19. 

However, organisers have since backtracked on the original decision and will allow NSW Police officers to march in the parade in plain clothes. 

Organisers said the decision was made for officers who 'volunteer their time and service to the community to participate in the event'.

The decision to allow plain-clothes police to march was made to allow for officers to appear in a 'respectful way as we navigate this tragedy together'.