Image: image by Palestine Action Group
An estimated 50,000 people are expected to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge this Sunday after the Supreme Court rejected a NSW Police bid to block a mass pro-Palestine protest.
In a last-minute ruling, the NSW Supreme Court dismissed the application on Saturday morning, granting Palestine Action Group (PAG) Sydney the legal green light to proceed with the protest.
Sydney Harbour Bridge officially set to host historic pro-Palestine march on Sunday
Organised under the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, the ‘March for Humanity’ will start at 1pm on Sunday, with participants assembling at Lang Park in the CBD.
From there, marchers will cross the Harbour Bridge in what organisers are calling a global act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The rally is set to conclude by 3:30pm.
Protesters are being urged to arrive early and move together across one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks.
PAG defiant ahead of court ruling despite Government pushback
The decision follows days of escalating tension between organisers and the state government, with Premier Minns initially opposing the rally, citing “logistical concerns” over closing the bridge on such short notice.
On Friday, PAG vowed to march regardless of the outcome, after police rejected their initial application, raising concerns over crowd control and safety.
Ahead of the ruling, PAG member Josh Lees said, “If we lose the case today it does not make the protest unlawful or banned — we have the right to protest — but we plan to win.”
Greens call out “Anti-Protest Minns Government”
Greens MP and solicitor Sue Higginson hailed the court ruling as a victory for civil rights.
“This landmark decision is a win for humanity, a win for starving children in Gaza, and a crushing defeat for this anti-protest Minns Labor Government,” Higginson said.
“The court was crystal clear that a protest being inconvenient does not mean it can be stopped — in fact, that’s the whole point of protest.”
She urged NSW Police and the Premier to now “work to ensure the safety of the people of Sydney”, and called on Labor to repeal its “draconian anti-protest laws”.
The Greens have confirmed they will join the march on Sunday, calling on the federal government to sanction Israel, end the arms trade and recognise the State of Palestine.
Mass turnout expected in pro-Palestine march as organisers call for peaceful, timely protest
The rally is expected to draw an estimate of 50,000 attendees, with participants likely to carry banners, keffiyehs and signs calling for an immediate ceasefire and sanctions against Israel.
Lees added, “A march over our Sydney Harbour Bridge would send the most powerful message to Israel, to stop this genocide. Even if world leaders have forgotten Gaza, the people have not.”
Organisers are calling on all supporters to be on time, remain peaceful, and follow the agreed route.
The rally will move northward via the Harbour Bridge pedestrian route and is likely to disperse near Milsons Point.
Transport for NSW warns the public to expect major disruptions, with north and southbound lanes, around the Harbour Bridge, closed from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, 3 August.
The march follows months of demonstrations across the city, but marks the first time the Harbour Bridge has been used for a pro-Palestine event.
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