Thousands Gather on Sydney Harbour Bridge for Historic Gaza Protest Following Court Victory
Tens of thousands of people marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge to call for an end to the fighting in Gaza, even though it was pouring rain and cops were warning people to stay safe.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of people filled the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a historic protest against the war in Gaza. The event was made possible by an amazing last-minute decision by the Supreme Court.
In a rare authorized public gathering on the famous bridge, activists, famous people, and families with young children braved the rain to join the “March for Humanity.” Notable people in attendance included Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, Ed Husic, a federal MP, and Bob Carr, the former premier of New South Wales.
Protesters holding signs saying “Stop the war now” and “Shame on Israel, shame on the US” could be heard through the steel arches. They also asked the Australian government to put sanctions on Israel.
Alec Beville, who came with his three-year-old son Frankie on his shoulders, said, “I know it’s on the other side of the world, but it affects us here hugely as well.” “With your help, we could do a lot more to help.”
“We just can’t do nothing while there’s a forced starvation of a whole population,” Zara Williams said while carrying her baby Avery in a sling.
The Palestine Action Group started the protest because of what they called a “atrocity” happening in Gaza. Concerns about safety and traffic led NSW Police to turn down the application. The case was then taken to the Supreme Court, which found in favor of the organizers just 24 hours before the march.
Even though Justice Belinda Rigg knew there were risks, she believed the organizers’ reasons, such as the need to act quickly to help people in Gaza who are in need, were strong. The players were legally protected by the Summary Offenses Act, so she ordered that the bridge be closed to cars and the roads around it to be cleared.
Even though riot police were there and NSW Police gave advice about crowd safety, the protest was calm. Around the middle of the march, people were sent a text message telling them to stop moving forward and slowly walk back toward the city center because of unknown safety concerns.
Transportation for NSW had earlier said that there would be big problems with roads and public transportation, and they told drivers to stay away from the CBD.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said in a statement that they were disappointed by the Supreme Court’s ruling and that it was “deeply concerning.”
The protest comes as calls for a Palestinian state grow around the world. Countries like France, Canada, and the UK have said they will back the idea, but only under certain conditions, before the UN General Assembly in September.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on the other hand, said that Australia would not decide quickly to recognize Palestine. He insisted that “lasting security for Israel” must be ensured before such a step is taken.
Sunday’s march on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was the biggest protest there since the 2023 World Pride event. This shows that more and more people want the Australian government to take a stronger stand on the Gaza conflict.
