Court Clears Pro-Palestine Rally for Sydney Harbour Bridge

The ruling grants legal protection to protesters against charges such as obstructing traffic or pedestrian pathways.

Pro-Palestine protestors march outside the DNC Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

A planned pro-Palestinian protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been cleared to proceed after the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court dismissed a police request to block the rally.

Justice Belinda Rigg ruled on Aug. 2 that anticipated disruption to traffic was not a sufficient reason to prevent the demonstration.

“Disruption is inherent to the right of peaceful protest,” she said, rejecting the police commissioner’s concerns around public safety.

The ruling grants legal protection to protesters against charges such as obstructing traffic or pedestrian pathways.

Mass Support and Rally Details

The protest, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, is scheduled for midday on Aug. 3 (Sunday) and is expected to draw thousands.

The march will begin in the CBD and move across the bridge to North Sydney, with organisers aiming to spotlight the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Support for the event has come from civil rights and human rights organisations across the country, including Amnesty International, churches, unions such as the nurses and midwives association, and the left-leaning Jewish Council of Australia.

Prominent figures, including former Socceroo Craig Foster and several MPs, have also backed the rally.

“The court was crystal clear—a protest being inconvenient doesn’t justify shutting it down. That’s the very nature of protest,” said Greens MP Sue Higginson.

Premier Minns Faced Pressure to Allow Protest

The ruling comes amid mounting criticism of Premier Chris Minns, who earlier said his government could not support a protest with such short notice, citing concerns about public safety and infrastructure disruption.

“The bridge is a critical asset … unplanned disruption carries real risks,” he said.

NSW Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna echoed the concerns, stating police had suggested alternative venues.

“We are sympathetic to their cause, but safety comes first,” he said.

However, a coalition of 48 civil society organisations, including Human Rights Watch, ACOSS, and Community Legal Centres NSW, had urged the premier to reverse his stance.

In a joint letter sent on July 31, they argued that governments have previously facilitated planned closures for events like the 2000 Walk for Reconciliation and 2023 World Pride, and that protests deserve equal treatment.

“The Harbour Bridge has historically served as a symbol of civic action. Community events and even film shoots have been accommodated—peaceful protests should be no exception,” the letter said.

In solidarity, Melbourne protesters are also expected to rally through the CBD toward the King Street Bridge on the same day.

AAP contributed to this article.