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| Pro-Palestine group vows to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge as potential court battle with NSW government looms | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Premier Chris Minns says he is not questioning the motives of the protesters, just the proposed route of the march | Premier Chris Minns says he is not questioning the motives of the protesters, just the proposed route of the march |
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| Organisers of a pro-Palestine protest involving a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge have vowed to proceed despite the New South Wales government rejecting that route. | Organisers of a pro-Palestine protest involving a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge have vowed to proceed despite the New South Wales government rejecting that route. |
| On Sunday, the Sydney-based Palestine Action Group announced it would march across the bridge to the US consulate this weekend, veering from its usual course in the near-weekly rally though the CBD. | On Sunday, the Sydney-based Palestine Action Group announced it would march across the bridge to the US consulate this weekend, veering from its usual course in the near-weekly rally though the CBD. |
| The group offered to delay the bridge march by a week after the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the government would not support a protest of that scale and nature. The group later said it was open to delaying it again by two to three weeks if the government was willing to work with them. | The group offered to delay the bridge march by a week after the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the government would not support a protest of that scale and nature. The group later said it was open to delaying it again by two to three weeks if the government was willing to work with them. |
| Minns on Tuesday said he was not questioning the motives of the protesters, just the route. He acknowledged there was widespread community concern about the situation in Gaza. | Minns on Tuesday said he was not questioning the motives of the protesters, just the route. He acknowledged there was widespread community concern about the situation in Gaza. |
| Speaking on ABC Sydney radio, the premier said he would not close the bridge “for any circumstances” when asked about the group’s offer to delay. | Speaking on ABC Sydney radio, the premier said he would not close the bridge “for any circumstances” when asked about the group’s offer to delay. |
| “I’m asking the organisers to work with NSW police on an alternative route. To shut [the bridge] down in these circumstances would be beyond the resources of the NSW government,” Minns said. | “I’m asking the organisers to work with NSW police on an alternative route. To shut [the bridge] down in these circumstances would be beyond the resources of the NSW government,” Minns said. |
| Three unions have endorsed the march across the bridge, including the Nurses Association, the Australian Services Union and the Electrical Trades Union. | Three unions have endorsed the march across the bridge, including the Nurses Association, the Australian Services Union and the Electrical Trades Union. |
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| A spokesperson for the Palestine Action Group, Josh Lees, said it was “determined to go ahead this Sunday”. | A spokesperson for the Palestine Action Group, Josh Lees, said it was “determined to go ahead this Sunday”. |
| In a video posted to social media on Tuesday, Lees pointed to Minns’ comments in which he claimed the premier “made clear” he was not opposing the protest marching across the bridge because of the timing. | In a video posted to social media on Tuesday, Lees pointed to Minns’ comments in which he claimed the premier “made clear” he was not opposing the protest marching across the bridge because of the timing. |
| “If the police and the premier want to stop us from protesting, they have to take us to the supreme court, and we’re prepared to fight them in court if necessary,” Lees said. | “If the police and the premier want to stop us from protesting, they have to take us to the supreme court, and we’re prepared to fight them in court if necessary,” Lees said. |
| “Obviously, we wish it won’t come to that. We would rather have the authorities in agreement that we should all be standing together against the genocide.” | “Obviously, we wish it won’t come to that. We would rather have the authorities in agreement that we should all be standing together against the genocide.” |
| Minns said he accepted “this is a protest that many people want to have”. | Minns said he accepted “this is a protest that many people want to have”. |
| “Many people are worried about aid and humanitarian care getting into Gaza, and I want the killing to stop as well,” he said. “I’m particularly concerned, like a lot of people, about the number of innocent children that have been killed. | “Many people are worried about aid and humanitarian care getting into Gaza, and I want the killing to stop as well,” he said. “I’m particularly concerned, like a lot of people, about the number of innocent children that have been killed. |
| “I accept that this is a protest that many people want to have. My argument here is I can’t close down the central artery for a city as big as Sydney, even on a short-term basis. | “I accept that this is a protest that many people want to have. My argument here is I can’t close down the central artery for a city as big as Sydney, even on a short-term basis. |
| “But even if we had a massive heads-up to do it, I think common sense has to play a role here. When it’s been closed in the past, and you can count on one hand over the last decade when it’s happened, it’s been months and months and months in the preparation.” | “But even if we had a massive heads-up to do it, I think common sense has to play a role here. When it’s been closed in the past, and you can count on one hand over the last decade when it’s happened, it’s been months and months and months in the preparation.” |
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| Anthony D’Adam, a Labor MP who Minns sacked from his parliamentary secretary roles after he criticised police tactics at a pro-Palestine demonstration, told Guardian Australia he was sympathetic to the arguments about not being enough notice. But he urged on Monday for police to facilitate the protest with the organisers within one to two weeks. | Anthony D’Adam, a Labor MP who Minns sacked from his parliamentary secretary roles after he criticised police tactics at a pro-Palestine demonstration, told Guardian Australia he was sympathetic to the arguments about not being enough notice. But he urged on Monday for police to facilitate the protest with the organisers within one to two weeks. |
| He said the assertion that it would cause chaos was overstated and past events showed it had led only to “some inconvenience”. | He said the assertion that it would cause chaos was overstated and past events showed it had led only to “some inconvenience”. |
| The lord mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, also backed the government working with the organisers to facilitate the protest at some point “if the community sentiment is significant enough”. | The lord mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, also backed the government working with the organisers to facilitate the protest at some point “if the community sentiment is significant enough”. |
| She said it would be a “powerful symbol” to demonstrate against the “starvation in Gaza”. | She said it would be a “powerful symbol” to demonstrate against the “starvation in Gaza”. |
| Palestine Action Group’s social media post announcing the March for Humanity over the bridge on 3 August “to save Gaza” has been widely shared. It highlighted the starvation of adults and children in Gaza. | Palestine Action Group’s social media post announcing the March for Humanity over the bridge on 3 August “to save Gaza” has been widely shared. It highlighted the starvation of adults and children in Gaza. |
| The World Health Organization says it has recorded 74 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza this year – 63 occurring in July, including 24 children under five. | The World Health Organization says it has recorded 74 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza this year – 63 occurring in July, including 24 children under five. |
| Global condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza has sharply increased in recent weeks and days. | Global condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza has sharply increased in recent weeks and days. |
| International humanitarian organisations have pleaded for attention on starvation and malnutrition concerns for civilians still remaining in Gaza. | International humanitarian organisations have pleaded for attention on starvation and malnutrition concerns for civilians still remaining in Gaza. |