Pro-Palestinian protesters are today threatening to defy police orders and march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge this weekend.
Amid the spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza, organisers from the Palestine Action Group want to march across the landmark to raise awareness and encourage action.
An application has been lodged by the organisation for 10,000 people to march across the bridge on Sunday.
READ MORE: Aussie couple's dream holiday ruined over US immigration debacle
NSW Police yesterday blocked the plan, claiming the public gathering would put lives at risk.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said police would not facilitate the protest but would be open to negotiation on alternative routes and times.
He said if the protest does go ahead on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, police would take the matter to the Supreme Court.
"We can not facilitate that public assembly this Sunday," McKenna said.
"The main rationale behind that is public safety."
READ MORE: Cold snap imminent as Sydney braces for wet week
Despite police moving to block the protest, the Palestine Action Group said the march will go ahead this Sunday.
"Hundreds are starving to death, and Gazan authorities warn that 40,000 babies are at imminent risk of death due to a lack of baby formula, as a result of Israel's blockade and deliberate starvation of the strip," the group said in a statement.
"The Palestine Action Group has been inundated with support for the march in a way that has never been seen in these past two years of genocide.
Meanwhile Labor MPs and trade unions have broken ranks with Premier Chris Minns, who claimed "chaos" would erupt in Sydney if the march proceeds.
They include upper house Labor MP and barrister Stephen Lawrence, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. He said he was "extremely concerned" by the premier's stance.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
from 9News https://ift.tt/Sujv2ex
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment