Pro-Palestinian protesters are determined to proceed with a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge this Sunday, even though NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns have intervened in an attempt to halt the event, citing concerns regarding public safety and traffic disruptions.
This demonstration, initiated by the Palestine Action Group (PAG), is a reaction to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. PAG has formally submitted an application to NSW Police for approximately 10,000 participants to march across the city’s most renowned landmark. The purpose is to deliver a powerful message regarding what PAG describes as the “intentional starvation of two million Gazans” and to urge governments to take action.
However, NSW Police stated yesterday that they would not permit the protest to proceed as planned. Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna explained, “We cannot facilitate that public assembly this Sunday. The primary reason for this decision is public safety.”
He highlighted the risk that closing the bridge could obstruct emergency services and cause significant traffic issues.
While police have offered to discuss alternative routes and timings, they have made it clear: if protesters attempt to march on the bridge, the issue will be escalated to the Supreme Court.
Despite this, the organisers remain resolute. The Palestine Action Group insists that the urgency of the situation in Gaza justifies extraordinary measures. In a statement posted on Facebook, the group stated, “Hundreds are starving to death, and Gazan authorities warn that 40,000 babies face imminent death due to a shortage of baby formula, as a consequence of Israel’s blockade and deliberate starvation of the region.” PAG claims they have received “unprecedented support unlike anything witnessed in these past two years of genocide.”
Organiser Josh Lees informed SBS News that the protest is a “special call” in response to the “unprecedented and urgent horrific situation in Gaza.”
Lees asserted that the bridge “is such a powerful symbol” and expressed to media on Tuesday, “We don’t live in a society where the Premier decides who and where we can protest.”
Premier Chris Minns, meanwhile, has stressed that the bridge is “one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city,” and stated, “Unplanned disruption poses not only significant inconvenience but also genuine public safety concerns. We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos.”
Minns also noted that previous bridge closures — for World Pride or film shoots — were planned over several months, not days.
Other voices have contributed to the discussion. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore described the bridge as an “incredibly powerful symbol” but encouraged finding a suitable alternative location — unless “community sentiment is significant enough to justify the use of the bridge,” according to The Guardian. Several NSW Greens MPs wrote an open letter to police and the government requesting that the demonstration be permitted, describing it as “the defining humanitarian issue of our time.”
While authorities and organisers remain at an impasse, discussions about possible alternate routes are ongoing. As of now, authorities are preparing for legal proceedings and have warned that marchers “do not have protections under the summary offences act” if they proceed without approval.
The Palestine Action Group is currently encouraging people to promote the protest and hopes to “witness an immense and peaceful display of humanity against genocide this Sunday.”
Lead image: Instagram / Getty
