Hundreds of Thousands Join Pro-Palestinian March in Australia; Assange Among them

Melbourne, 04 August — Thousands of people took to the streets in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday in a pro-Palestinian demonstration under the banner “March for Humanity,” protesting the ongoing violence in Gaza. Among the participants were WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, federal MP Ed Husic, and former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr.

According to a BBC report, the march, held on Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, sparked significant public engagement and political reactions.

The last time such a large gathering occurred on the Harbour Bridge was during WorldPride 2023. Organizers have called this event “historic,” particularly as legal permission was granted by the Supreme Court only 24 hours before the march.

Hundreds of Thousands Join Pro-Palestinian March in Australia; Julian Assange Among Attendees

Despite heavy rain, thousands gathered wearing raincoats and carrying Palestinian flags (red, green, white, and black). Many banners read: “March for Humanity: Save Gaza.“

Protesters chanted: “Shame, shame Israel! Shame, shame USA!” and “What do we want? Ceasefire! When do we want it? Now!”

Many families joined the march with young children. One participant, Alec Beville, said, “Children in Gaza are just like my three-year-old son. We could do so much more to help.”

Another protester, Zara Williams, a mother, said, “An entire population is being deliberately starved, and our government has imposed no meaningful sanctions on Israel.”

Initially, police denied permission for the march citing public safety concerns. They then appealed to the court for a ban, but Justice Belinda Rigg of the NSW Supreme Court rejected the application.

She stated, “The organizers have strongly presented the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and there is no evidence that a ban would enhance public safety.” The court ordered roads and the bridge to be closed temporarily to ensure the protest could proceed safely.

Two hours after the march began, NSW Police issued a statement saying, “In the interest of public safety, the march must now conclude.” Protesters were then urged to return to