Wednesday 23 November 2022 09:59 AM Danny Lim protesters swarm Sydney police station demanding 'justice' trends now
Hundreds of angry protesters descended on a major police station decrying the bungled arrest of a beloved Sydneysider who suffered a fractured skull when he was slammed to the ground by officers.
Danny Lim, 78, famous for holding controversial sandwich board signs and telling people to smile, remains at St Vincent's Hospital with bleeding on the brain after police slapped handcuffs on him Tuesday.
Demonstrators gathered at Day Street in the CBD on Wednesday evening demanding justice for the heavy-handed arrest, which has triggered an internal injury by NSW Police.
Colourful protesters held up placards in support of Mr Lim and chanted anti-police slogans.
One sign read 'Can't the police take a joke?' While another said 'F*** the cops, Danny is tops'.
Sydney activist Danny Lim, 78, was left with a brain injury after a violent arrest in the CBD's Queen Victoria Building (pictured, Mr Lim immediately after the arrest)
Commenters on a Facebook page supporting Mr Lim expressed their horror at how he was treated.
'This time they've beaten him up so badly they've fractured his skull. Definitely protest time,' said one.
'Looks like it's time to get outside and protest ... again,' said another.
Mr Lim was forced to the ground by two NSW Police officers in the city's Queen Victoria Building shortly before 11am on Tuesday.
Hundreds of people gathered at Day Street police station on Wednesday evening in Sydney's CBD to protest (pictured) against the violent arrest of Danny Lim
Protesters are pictured holding up signs saying the arrest of Danny Lim on Tuesday was 'police brutality'
A man protesting against the arrest of Danny Lim points to the crime stoppers sign on the back of a police van
The incident was captured on camera by a shocked bystander.
Police 'discontinued' their arrest after Mr Lim's head cracked against the tiled floors, leaving him with a black eye and a bloody cheek.
Mr Lim, who weighs just 50kgs, was then rushed to St Vincent's Hospital.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal he has not been able to communicate properly - a common symptom of serious brain traumas - since the injury.
He has since been diagnosed with a 'subdural haematoma' - a bruise between the surface of the brain and the skull.
People gathered (pictured) in Sydney city centre to protest against the violent arrest of Danny Lim
Protesters are pictured outside Day Street police station in Sydney, seeking 'justice for Danny Lim'
Protesters are pictured holding signs outside the Day Street police station in Sydney on Wednesday evening
High-profile defence lawyer Chris Murphy is supporting Mr Lim and said he was in a 'very poor state' and 'unable to communicate clearly'.
Mr Murphy said Mr Lim was walking along a corridor connecting the QVB to Town Hall train station when the arrest unfolded.
'You can see his Opal (transport) card next to him. He was walking to Town Hall station, on his way home, but paused at a telephone shop because he knew the owner,' Mr Murphy told Daily Mail Australia.
'He's a chatter, he wanted to have a chat!
'The owner was serving a customer so Mr Lim was waiting outside when police arrived.'
A protester is pictured making his views clear on the arrest of Danny Lim known on Wednesday
Protesters gathered at a Sydney CBD police station to support Danny Lim on Wednesday
A protester outside Day Street police station in Sydney is pictured holding a tribute to Mr Lim
A protester is pictured outside a Sydney police station where hundreds gathered to express their disgust at how Danny Lim was treated
Mr Murphy said several shop owners witnessed the incident and told lawyers Mr Lim was never asked to leave by anyone around the phone shop.
'One woman was very distressed and filmed it,' he said.
'They all say the way police were harassing him was unnecessary. He was on his way home, he was harmless.'
Mr Lim has become a beloved figure in the city and is famous for wearing signs proclaiming peace, love and happiness with the support of his 17-year-old pet chihuahua-pomeranian, Smarty.
