- The Guardian
- Issue #2077
Photo: Anna Pha.
Every week the protest actions in Sydney become larger rising from around 5000 to 15,000 to an estimated 50,000 on Sunday 29 October. After hearing speeches demonstrators marched from Hyde Park to Belmore Park calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, demanding freedom for Palestinians and protesting against the Australian government’s support for Israel.
Thousands of families took part in the peaceful rally and march with a skyline of Palestinian flags. They were united in their call for peace. Muslims, Jews, Christians, other faiths, and non-believers marched shoulder to shoulder chanting “Free Palestine.”
The placards read “Justice for Palestine,” “You don’t need to be Muslim to stand up for Palestine you just need to be human,” “Apparently all lives matter … except those in Palestine,” and so on.
The Communist Party of Australia and other left groups, the Greens took part. The Maritime Union of Australia, the National Tertiary Education Union and Australian Services Union rallied behind a “Unionists for Palestine” banner.
Anger was directed not only towards Israel but at the US and the Albanese government for their unqualified support of Israel.
“They are not just numbers on a paper,” organiser Assala Sayara told the Sydney rally. “They are humans with dreams and hopes. They are not terrorists, they are native Palestinians who have a right to be on their land. This is an indication that the world has failed justice.”
An enormous Palestinian flag, more than 50 metres long, was carried along the march.
