More charges are likely after a violent clash between rival groups on a Sydney street near where NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham was to give a controversial campaign speech.

Two people have so far been charged after the protest outside St Michael’s Church Belfield on Tuesday night, where Mr Latham had been invited to talk at public meeting about parental rights ahead of Saturday’s NSW election.

Mr Latham and LGBTQI+ activists have long clashed over gender issues, with the One Nation leader pushing for laws banning discussion of gender diversity in NSW classrooms.

Footage posted to Facebook by Community Action for Rainbow Rights, a Sydney-based LGBTI+ activist group protesting what they expected to be an “anti-trans” speech, showed police separating the rival groups near the church.

Police said riot squad and operational support officers were called in to disperse the out-of-control crowd of around 250 people on the street.

“We expect further charges to be laid today against a number of other offenders,” Superintendent Sheridan Waldau told reporters.

“We believe the people who were involved in the violent confrontation were attending the event that was to be held at the church hall.” 

Supt Waldau said police were blindsided by the violence at the protest, which was expected to be peaceful.

Police shielded the protesters who had projectiles, including bottles and rocks, thrown at them by the other group.

A glass bottle struck a male constable who was taken to hospital in a stable condition with an injured hand, while a 38-year-old man was pushed to the ground and assaulted.

Mr Latham said he ignored advice to go home, instead proceeding with his speech inside the church hall.

“To not give my speech, to go straight home would have allowed the transgender protesters to cancel my free speech and democratic rights as an election candidate, things that are sacred to me and have been for 35 years in running for elections, local, federal and state,” he tweeted.

“No one should take the law into their own hands. Violence at political events is wrong,” he said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet labelled the violence “disgraceful”, saying it was an aberration on an election campaign that had been run in “great spirit”.

“There is no place for violence in our state … particularly during election periods,” he told reporters.

“There should be a sense of respect and tolerance towards people with different views.”

Labor leader Chris Minns described the violence as unfortunate, saying he would “love to see a campaign where there are no scenes, where people can get the views out to the people of NSW to make their calls”.

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said “a small but loud group” of “cruel and lazy politicians” were targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.

“They are a disgrace and all major party political leaders should call it out and condemn it,” he said.

Greens MP Jenny Leong said violence was “never okay – not on peaceful protesters – not on anyone”.

“One Nation representatives and the discriminatory views they spew out have a toxic influence on our society,” Ms Leong tweeted. 

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