DoomsdaysCW<p>Tens of thousands turn out for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Sydney" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Sydney</span></a> pro-<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Palestinian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Palestinian</span></a> march</p><p>by Katy Watson and Tabby Wilson, August 3, 2025</p><p>"A planned pro-Palestinian protest across the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SydneyHarbour" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SydneyHarbour</span></a> Bridge has gone ahead after it was authorised by the Supreme Court just one day prior, in what organisers called a 'historic' decision.</p><p>"Tens of thousands turned out for the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MarchForHumanity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MarchForHumanity</span></a> on Sunday despite torrential rain - with many carrying placards with messages to politicians to stop the war.</p><p>"WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was spotted among the protesters, with other notable attendees including federal MP Ed Husic and former NSW Premier Bob Carr.</p><p>" 'Shame shame Israel, shame shame USA,' the crowds chanted. 'What do we want? Ceasefire. When do we want it? Now.'</p><p>"Lots of families, many with small babies, came out to support the peaceful demonstration. Alongside them, stationed across the bridge, were police officers from the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RiotSquad" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RiotSquad</span></a>.</p><p>" 'I know it's the other side of the world but it affects us here massively as well,' says dad Alec Beville, who compares the children in Gaza to his three-year-old son Frankie. 'We could be helping a lot more with aid.'</p><p>" 'Our government hasn't put any decent <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/sanctions" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sanctions</span></a> on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Israel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Israel</span></a>,' says Zara Williams as she carries her baby, Avery, in a sling. 'We [Australia] just can't do nothing while there's a forced starvation of an entire population.'</p><p>"Two hours into the march, attendees received a text from <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NSWPolice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NSWPolice</span></a> that read: 'In consultation with the organisers, the march needs to stop due to public safety and await further instructions.'</p><p>"It asked everyone on the bridge to stop walking north and turn back toward the city in a 'controlled' way.</p><p>"Police have estimated that 90,000 people attended Sunday's march.</p><p>"Transport for NSW told motorists to avoid the city, warning of major delays and disruptions across Sydney's road and public transport network due to the protest.</p><p>"Sydney-based activist organisation <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PalestineAction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PalestineAction</span></a> Group lodged a notice of intention for the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last Sunday, in response to what it called the 'atrocity' in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Gaza" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Gaza</span></a>.</p><p>"Police rejected the application on the grounds that there was not enough time to prepare a traffic management plan, and warned of a potential crowd crush and other safety concerns.</p><p>"In a statement the following day, NSW Premier Chris Minns said they could not allow Sydney to 'descend into chaos' and would not be able to support a protest of 'this scale and nature' taking place on the bridge.</p><p>"The police also made an application to the NSW Supreme Court for a prohibition order for the event, which was declined just 24 hours before the protest was due to go ahead.</p><p>"According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Justice Belinda Rigg said safety concerns regarding the march were 'well founded', but march organiser Josh Lees from the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PalestineActionGroup" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PalestineActionGroup</span></a> had 'compellingly' explained the reasons why he believed there needed to be an urgent response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.</p><p>"She said there was no evidence that a prohibition order would enhance public safety, and ordered the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be closed to vehicles, in addition to roads surrounding the proposed route.</p><p>"The final-hour authorisation gives attendees protection under the Summary Offences Act, meaning they will not be charged for offences specifically relating to public assembly, such as blocking traffic.</p><p>"In a statement published to Instagram, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said that it was 'disappointed' by the Supreme Court's decision to authorise the protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. [Yeah, well, I'm disappointed that some Jewish folks support <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Genocide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Genocide</span></a>!]</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Australia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Australia</span></a> has been under mounting pressure to recognise <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PalestinianStatehood" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PalestinianStatehood</span></a>, after <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/France" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>France</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Canada</span></a> and the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/UK" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UK</span></a> all separately indicated that they would do so with conditions at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September.</p><p>"Speaking on ABC's 7.30 programme, Prime Minister <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AnthonyAlbanese" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AnthonyAlbanese</span></a> said he wants to see conditions met that achieve lasting security for Israel before Australia commits to recognition of a Palestinian state.</p><p>"He added that he would not be pushed into the decision by other nations." [Well, maybe you'll be pushed into the decision by your own CITIZENS!]</p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clydnvw1dg5o?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bbc.com/news/articles/clydnvw1</span><span class="invisible">dg5o?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FreePalestine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FreePalestine</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ACAB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ACAB</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EndGazaGenocide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EndGazaGenocide</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IsraeliWarCrimes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IsraeliWarCrimes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BibiIsAWarCriminal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BibiIsAWarCriminal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AustraliaResists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AustraliaResists</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GazaHumanitarianCrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GazaHumanitarianCrisis</span></a></p>