Pro-Palestine protest goes off without incident in Sydney CBD
A Pro-Palestine rally has gone off without a hitch in the Sydney CBD, with more than 6000 people converging on Hyde Park on Sunday.
NSW
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A Pro-Palestine rally has gone off without a hitch in the Sydney CBD, with more than 6000 people converging on Hyde Park on Sunday.
Men and women wearing the black and white Palestinian keffiyeh held signs saying “Palestinian lives matter” and held pictures of dead children.
In contrast to Monday’s anger-filled protest, the mood was sombre, with a quranic lament played out over the speakers.
Palestinian Action group organiser Josh Lees said they had lodged the paperwork to protest at Town Hall next Saturday with an intention to march in the streets.
He urged protesters to do nothing that could be regarded as anti-Semitic.
“We know the government and police are looking for any excuse to try and prohibit our right to protest,” he said.
“So that’s one thing we must be clear on today, we must be disciplined, we must be peaceful.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in our movement.
“We denounce anti-Semitism…we are against racism”, the spokesman said.
“We are not anti-Semite. We have to be totally clear…none of that will ever happen again.”
As the crowd numbers swelled, to what police estimated was approaching 6000, Mr Lees told them to not cover their faces, unless for medical or religious reasons as it helps hide people who intend to make trouble.
Amid an enormous police presence, members of the Palestine Action Group kicked off the rally just after 1pm with a series of chants echoed by the crowd.
“Free, free Palestine…from the river to the sea,” they chanted.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which has long been a catch-cry of the Palestinian cause, and is chanted at pro-Palestinian rallies around the world.
Jewish groups say the chant is anti-Semitic, with the American Jewish Committee (AJC)
labelling the phrase a “call to arms”, which “calls for the establishment of a State of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, erasing the State of Israel and its people.”
The AJC claims the chant is a “rallying cry for terrorist groups and their sympathisers” including by Hamas.
Last week in Vienna, police banned a pro-Palestinian protest after the phrase “from the river to the sea” was mentioned in the rally invitations.
In explaining his decision Vienna’s head of police Gerhard Puerstl said the phrase “has been adopted by Hamas.”
The presence of uniformed police also significant, with mounted and canine units, and detectives also on-hand, were spread through Hyde Park and its surrounds.
Though the number of police present appeared to be less than acting Commissioner Hudson warned would be attending.
Speaking to the gathering protest leaders called on the Australian government to cut ties with Israel.
Many speakers drew links between Saturday’s referendum outcome and the events in Israel.
“On the back of the referendum yesterday we saw political leaders, donning Yes T-shirts standing with a settler colonial power like Israel, a fascist regime and refusing the right of Indigenous Palestinians to resist,” one speaker said.
Another speaker, Indigenous Australian Ethan Floyd said white violence must be met with black violence.
“We shall resist assimilation of all kinds, we shall not become a black liberal in a white society,” he said.
“White violence must be met with black violence.”
NSW Police assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said no arrests were made, and no offenses were committed by the 6000-strong crowd.
“I’m pleased to say that in the circumstances, people listened...and we were able to ensure that the behaviours we saw last Monday were not repeated,” assistant commissioner Cooke said.
More than 1000 police swarmed the city for the rally - on foot, in the air, on horseback, bicycles and in cars.
“A significant response was mounted to ensure people were safe,” he said.
Strict police powers first seen at the 2005 Cronulla riots were not activated.
“I did not see it necessary (to activate them),” assistant commissioner Cooke said.
Police will decide this week whether they approve a proposed march planned for Saturday.
“No decision has been made on that as yet,” he said.
PEOPLE WARNED TO STAY HOME
More than 500 people registered their attendance to the rally despite police warning the public to stay away from the city. Police will be on high alert and will likely invoke some of the strictest powers available, should the event be hijacked by violent or anti-Semitic groups.
Rarely seen police powers could see protesters subject to searches without reasonable cause. They would also allow police to lock down the CBD, although authorities say they have no intention to use these powers
Rally organiser, the Palestinian Action Group were denied permission to march through the city as they did not submit the form within the seven day notice period.
Premier Chris Minns made it clear the group would be unlikely to get permission for future protests as the previous rally had “proven they’re not peaceful”.
“Shouting racial epithets at Jewish community members is not the definition of a peaceful protest,” he said earlier in the week.
“The idea they’re going to commandeer Sydney streets is not going to happen.”
Tensions between police and protesters remain heightened after scenes on Monday of an Israeli flag being burnt on the Opera House forecourt with some protesters chanting “kill the Jews” among other anti-Semitic remarks.
Rally organisers posted a warning to protesters attending Sunday’s rally they could be subject to an ID check and search, including a vehicle search.
“There may be counter-protests that show up at the rally with Israeli flags to provoke us – do not under any circumstances approach them,” the statement said.
“Marshals will be working with police to ensure they do not approach our attendees.”
The chaotic scene led Premier Minns to apologise to the Jewish community, saying the government “failed” to make them feel safe on Monday after the Opera House was lit up blue and white in solidarity for Israel.
It followed the Hamas attacks on Israel last Saturday, which killed hundreds and has since escalated to war on the Gaza Strip.
Rally organiser Fahad Ali told media Friday, anyone engaging in racism and violence should not attend the event.
“If anyone is motivated to engage in any kind of racism, any kind of troublemaking, they should absolutely not come, they should stay home and they are not welcome in our movement,” he said.
Acting Police Commissioner Dave Hudson said the police powers, which were brought in after the Cronulla riots, may not be used.
“Just because they’re available to us does not necessarily mean we will not be using the full extent of the powers which can lock the city down. We don’t intend to do that,” he said.
“They can’t guarantee their potentially peaceful protests won’t be hijacked.
“Whoever shows up on Sunday to meet in Hyde Park it’s the behaviour that they engage in that is of concern to us. What happened on Monday night cannot be repeated.”
Rally organisers say they will fight in the Supreme Court for their right to protest again next week.
“This past week in NSW has been a draconian attack on our right to demonstrate in solidarity with the people of Palestine,” Sydney PAG organiser Amal Naser said.
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