‘Thank you for defying Chris Minns’, says Greens senator Faruqi
Jordyn Beazley
Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi, is speaking at the protest now, taking a swipe at the NSW premier, Chris Minns, for not supporting the protest. She said:
Thank you for defying Chris Minns. This is a man who wants you to stay home and be silent in the face of a genocide.
It was never about logistics. It was never about traffic. It was never about communications or anything else. It was always about stopping us and silencing us. It was always about protecting Israel and the Labor government from accountability.
We’ve got to keep building this momentum because we don’t want rhetoric or words or signatures or gestures. We want the harshest sanctions on Israel.
We are united and we are stronger and louder and more powerful together. Today we will make history.
Mehreen Faruqi at a July protest. The Greens senator wants ‘the harshest sanctions’ against Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPAShare
Updated at 05.03 BST
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Caitlin Cassidy
“Innocent babies have no colour, no religion, no language”
The crowd has begun to slowly filter down Lang Street towards the bridge.
Earlier, Nurses and Midwives 4 Palestine stood in the rain on with their umbrellas and large sign, swapping snacks and joining in chants.
They’ve been braving all weather conditions to attend weekly pro-Palestine rallies since 2023.
Today isn’t new for them – but what does feel different is the sheer scale of the march.
Mark Murphy, a registered nurse and member of the group, says the Palestinian people have been “voiceless”.
There’s a genocide, there’s forced starvation … Palestinians have got no rights. By us showing up here, it’s a small token … we want to make sure the rest of the world is hearing, and taking action. This is what people power’s all about.
Philomena McGoldrick, a registered nurse and midwife, has spent stints working in Gaza and has been heartbroken by images circulating of starving children. She says:
Innocent babies have no colour, no religion, no language. In this day and age … it’s heartbreaking … But it’s nice to meet people standing on the right side. The tide has changed.
ShareCaitlin Cassidy
Crowd waits to march in Sydney during a break in the rain
The rain has briefly abated and the crowd in Sydney, packed on Lang Street in their thousands, are waiting to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Many protestors are carrying pots and utensils to draw attention to the ongoing starvation in Gaza.
Dan, who is originally from the UK, is proudly holding a sign reading “Gay Jews 4 Gaza”.
He’s in attendance over the frustration of the war in Gaza continuing for so long and the federal government “seemingly doing nothing”.
I grew up in a north London Jewish community, and I think there’s a widespread Zionism that exists within the Jewish community that is difficult to separate from religion … I think it’s important for people within the community to stand up and raise their voice against the state of Israel because they’re not representative of the Jewish community as a whole.
Asked if this feels like a turning point, Dan says:
I hope so … it’s gone on long enough without action.
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Protesters begin crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge
We have word from our reporter, Jordyn Beazley, that protesters have now started to cross the Sydney harbour Bridge.
Among those at the front of the crowd are MP Ed Husic, former NSW Premier Bob Carr, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and five Labor MPs who defied calls from Premier Chris Minns not to march.
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Hundreds of children among Sydney pro-Palestine marchers
Caitlin Cassidy
Hundreds of children and infants are in the crowd at Sydney’s Lang Park today, wearing ponchos and keffiyehs.
Experts have warned that children, elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk of famine in Gaza, amid well-documented evidence of growing and worsening famine under conditions of Israeli restrictions on aid.
Laura, a protester, has brought her baby Miro to the Sydney march. She’s attended pro-Palestinian rallies in the past, but this is the first time she has brought her child with her. She tells Guardian Australia:
How could you not be here today?
It’s impossible not to be heartbroken by the pictures – why is it OK? It wouldn’t be okay if it was happening here.
Laura with her baby Miro at the Palestinian Action Group’s march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photograph: Caitlin Cassidy
Shani, in year five, who has come with her parents and her brother Hau, has attended pro-Palestinian rallies since 2023. She says she imagines she will describe today’s thousands-strong crowd to her own children one day.
I’m speaking out for the Palestinian kids like me, and for all of Palestine because of the war that’s been going on right now. It’s just really important … it feels really nice that other people stand beside me, and stand up for what I stand up to.
Shani with her brother Hau, her mother, Maila, and father Aki, as they wait for the start of the pro-Palestinian march across the bridge. Photograph: Caitlin CassidyShare
Updated at 04.59 BST
Photographer Matthew Abbott is at the march in Sydney today taking images for Guardian Australia:
Protesters gather during the Palestine Action Group’s ‘March for Humanity’ in Sydney. Photograph: Matthew AboottMarchers are carrying Palestinian flags, wearing traditional Palestinian scarves – keffiyehs – and playing music as they prepare to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photograph: Matthew AboottAboriginal flags are flown in solidarity with Palestinian people. Photograph: Matthew AboottShare
Updated at 04.52 BST
Here’s an incredible scene sent to us of the George St exit of Wynyard station in Sydney.
Crowds leaving George Street exit of Wynyard station, Sydney. Photograph: Public/AnonymousShare
Wet afternoon forecast for Sydney protesters
Sydney pro-Palestine protesters look as if they’re in for a wet and cold afternoon as they march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast suggests the temperature will “feel like” 12C for most of the afternoon with persistent showers.
The bureau’s rain radar is suggesting the heavier falls may have passed, but behind it is plenty of lighter rain for the next couple of hours moving in off the coast.
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Updated at 04.39 BST
‘Thank you for defying Chris Minns’, says Greens senator Faruqi
Jordyn Beazley
Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi, is speaking at the protest now, taking a swipe at the NSW premier, Chris Minns, for not supporting the protest. She said:
Thank you for defying Chris Minns. This is a man who wants you to stay home and be silent in the face of a genocide.
It was never about logistics. It was never about traffic. It was never about communications or anything else. It was always about stopping us and silencing us. It was always about protecting Israel and the Labor government from accountability.
We’ve got to keep building this momentum because we don’t want rhetoric or words or signatures or gestures. We want the harshest sanctions on Israel.
We are united and we are stronger and louder and more powerful together. Today we will make history.
Mehreen Faruqi at a July protest. The Greens senator wants ‘the harshest sanctions’ against Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPAShare
Updated at 05.03 BST
Caitlin Cassidy
Thousands of Palestinian supporters arrive at Sydney’s Lang Park
Thousands of people are arriving at Lang Park before today’s pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Crowds are gathering south of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to walk in protest at the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPA
Protesters are braving heavy rain and mud, carrying umbrellas and donning rain jackets, and many people are carrying signs and Palestinian flags.
The Palestine Action Group estimated that tens of thousands of people would be taking part in the march, protesting against Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the reported starvation of children.
“Watch and do nothing, what have you become?”, one sign reads, while another says: “ceasefire now”.
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Updated at 04.36 BST
Here’s the scene on one Sydney street as pro-Palestine marchers prepare to set off for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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Updated at 04.20 BST
Julian Assange and Bob Carr are at the Sydney Pro-Palestine march
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr during the Palestine Action Group’s march in Sydney. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPAShare
Updated at 04.20 BST
What we know so far about the Pro-Palestine marches
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The Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed at 11.30am as pro-Palestine supporters gathered at Lang Park for the start of the march, which is expected to take three hours.
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March scheduled to start at 1.30pm from the corner of York and Grosvenor streets, then heading north west on to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Marchers turn left on to Alfred St and then go south to Bradfield Park.
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The Sydney march organiser is Palestine Action Group Sydney. There will be eight speakers, including Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, indigenous actor Meyne Wyatt and former Socceroo and Australian of the Year Craig Foster.
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Transport for NSW has asked people to avoid non-essential travel around the CBD and northern Sydney, warning there will be long delays. Bus services will be affected and travellers are being asked to check for updates.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters are also gathering in Melbourne ready to block the King Street bridge, this afternoon.
The march is taking place despite cold and very wet weather in Sydney. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPAShare
Updated at 04.19 BST