Latest news with #MarchforHumanity
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Mayor's call on Harbour Bridge march
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has thrown her support behind plans for a pro-Palestine march across the Harbour Bridge, saying it would be an 'incredibly powerful symbol'. The Palestine Action Group Sydney informed NSW Police over the weekend of plans for a march across the bridge on Sunday in response to mass starvation in Gaza. Police have yet to confirm whether they will seek to block the march, with Premier Chris Minns claiming Sydney could 'descend into chaos' if it went ahead. In a statement, Ms Moore urged the state government to find an alternative venue or, if 'community sentiment is significant enough', to allow use of the bridge. 'It would be an incredibly powerful symbol for our most iconic landmark to be the site of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza and in favour of lasting peace,' she said. 'The right to protest is paramount in a democracy, and the City has always stood with protestors using their voices to call for peace.' NSW Premier Chris Minns Sydney claimed Sydney could 'descend into chaos' if the march went ahead. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia The Premier said the state government would not support a 'protest of this scale' on the bridge on Monday. He claimed the protest would not only disrupt thousands of commuters but pose 'real public safety concerns', noting that only a week's notice was provided. In response, organisers proposed holding the event a week later. 'The Premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. 'We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the Premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A mayor arterial route between Sydney's north and south, the Harbour Bridge has been closed multiple times in recent years. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the march would be an 'incredibly powerful symbol'. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia In 2023, it was closed for the filming of The Fall Guy, staring Ryan Gosling, as well as the 2023 World Pride march. The Palestine Action Group claim the bridge could 'be temporarily closed to help stop a genocide'. It comes amid mounting pressure on the Albanese government to take a firmer stance on the conflict in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed. The Prime Minister accused Israel of 'clearly' breaching international law over the weekend, but fell short of joining ally France in recognising a Palestinian state. Israel has been accused of deliberately starving Gaza's remaining two million inhabitants almost two years into Israel's war on the enclave after Hamas' October 7 attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was not to blame for the situation, adding there were 'secure routes' for aid. Greens MLC Sue Higginson Member was one of six Greens MPs and MLCs to sign the letter. NCA NewsWire, Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia In an open letter, seven NSW Greens MPs called on NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Acting Commissioner Peter Thurtell to approve the protest. In NSW, protestors must file a Form One with NSW Police. If approved, the Form One offers protestors protection from anti-assembly laws. In their letter, the MPs called the march 'important expression of political communication' and noted previous court challenges by police to pro-Palestine events. 'This is the defining humanitarian issue of our time and leaders across NSW will be remembered for their actions in this moment,' the letter said. 'This is not only an opportunity to reverse course on your crackdown against peaceful protests in NSW – it is a chance to demonstrate you are on the side of humanity'. The letter was co-signed by MLCs Sue Higginson, Abigail Boyd, and Amanda Cohn, and MPs Jenny Leong, Kobi Shetty, and Tamara Smith.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Fight looms as Gaza protest planned for Sydney Harbour Bridge
A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But New South Wales Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity".
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Fight looms as Gaza protest planned for Harbour Bridge
A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity". A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity". A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity". A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity".
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pro-Palestine demonstration across Sydney Harbour Bridge to be blocked
NSW Premier Chris Minns says his government will not support pro-Palestinian protesters crossing the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying he 'cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos' and police would work with organisers to find an alternative route. Palestine Action Group applied to NSW Police to march over what it described as 'Australia's most iconic symbol' on Sunday afternoon as part of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Minns said his government would not support a 'protest of this scale' taking place on the Harbour Bridge with only one week's notice. 'The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city – used every day by thousands of people. Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns,' he said. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos. NSW Police are in discussions with organisers about other routes they can take and are working to ensure community safety is upheld.' PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said: 'The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the Form 1 application had been received by Sydney City Police Area Command and officers were consulting the relevant stakeholders.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine demonstration across Sydney Harbour Bridge to be blocked
NSW Premier Chris Minns says his government will not support pro-Palestinian protesters crossing the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying he 'cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos' and police would work with organisers to find an alternative route. Palestine Action Group applied to NSW Police to march over what it described as 'Australia's most iconic symbol' on Sunday afternoon as part of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Minns said his government would not support a 'protest of this scale' taking place on the Harbour Bridge with only one week's notice. 'The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city – used every day by thousands of people. Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns,' he said. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos. NSW Police are in discussions with organisers about other routes they can take and are working to ensure community safety is upheld.' PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said: 'The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the Form 1 application had been received by Sydney City Police Area Command and officers were consulting the relevant stakeholders.
