Protesters and politicians have pledged to defy any court order banning a pro-Palestine march from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with one NSW MP calling it “inevitable”.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation among the people of Gaza as a result of Israel’s offensive in the enclave, Sunday’s rally has been hyped by organisers as a “March for Humanity”.
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
But NSW Police walked into the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon to request the rally be deemed unauthorised, which would allow officers to arrest people for blocking road traffic.
A decision is expected later on Friday.
Palestine Action Group Sydney, which is behind the march, h as vowed to rally regardless of the court ruling. Spokesman Josh Lees said the groundswell of support was unstoppable.
“Whether or not Palestine Action Group has anything to do with it, there are going to be tens of thousands of people gathered, determined to march for humanity over our Sydney Harbour Bridge to stop a genocide,” he said outside court.
Among those planning to join the march are 15 politicians, including five NSW Labor MPs – Sarah Kaine, Stephen Lawrence, Anthony D’Adam, Cameron Murphy and Linda Voltz. They have urged the Minns government to ensure a safe and orderly event on Sunday or “some other agreed date”.
Outspoken upper house government MP Lawrence went a step further, predicting Premier Chris Minns’ perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court’s ability to thwart the bridge plans.
“The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled,” he said.
On Friday, Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance, saying he hoped organisers would work with the police to find an alternative route.
“There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest, it’s not deniable, and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza,” he said.
He had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring “chaos” to Sydney.
Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said Minns’ position went against Labor Party values.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure. A court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Lawyers argue this is against Australia’s civil rights obligations.
“As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it,” Australian Lawyers for Human Rights vice president Kerry Weste said.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s new police commissioner Mike Bush has reiterated his state that will not adopt a protest permit system.
That’s despite police being unsuccessful in having organisers of a similar pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday alter their route.
The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm has said it will protest in solidarity with Sydney, marching through the city before attempting to block the King Street bridge.
Victoria Police Superintendent Troy Papworth said attempts to persuade organisers to change their plans had been unsuccessful.
He warned the protest posed a “great risk” and would ultimately obstruct emergency services.
“Purposely blocking a major thoroughfare through the city is a risk that we just can’t take and we won’t stand for it,” Papworth said on Friday.
“We’ve tried to engage with this group and strongly encourage them to change their plans and not occupy the bridge.”
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza has topped 60,000, according to local health authorities. The United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation.
Israel’s campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking some 250 hostage.
-with AAP
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