Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in a rain-soaked but peaceful protest that organisers hailed as a historic moment for Australia’s solidarity with Gaza.
The “March for Humanity” proceeded after the New South Wales Supreme Court overturned a police bid to block the rally over public safety concerns. The event marked the first authorized protest of its kind to take place on the Harbour Bridge since World Pride 2023.
Among the crowd were families with young children, members of Parliament including Ed Husic, former Premier Bob Carr, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Protesters chanted for an immediate ceasefire and condemned both Israel and the United States for what they called complicity in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Placards bearing slogans like “Stop the war” and “End starvation in Gaza” were raised high despite the torrential rain. Police officers, including members of the riot squad, were stationed across the bridge but no major incidents were reported.
Midway through the march, NSW Police sent a mass text message directing protesters to turn back toward the city citing public safety. The crowd complied in a calm and organised manner.
The event was organised by the Palestine Action Group in response to the deepening crisis in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 according to local health officials.
The protest gained legal protection under the Summary Offences Act after Justice Belinda Rigg ruled that while police concerns were valid, the right to public assembly outweighed them in this case.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies criticised the court’s decision, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that Australia would not recognise Palestinian statehood unless certain conditions were met.
Transport authorities warned of major disruptions across Sydney throughout the day.
