The 52nd Free Palestine Rally on Gadigal in Sydney Was a Testament to Social Cohesion

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Free Palestine Rally

Despite a week of dog whistling from prime minister Anthony Albanese, NSW premier Chris Minns, and an enhanced effort by Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton, who basically bared his canine-like teeth to the press, the 52nd Free Palestine-Free Lebanon rally on Gadigal land in Sydney took place without issue on Sunday 6 October 2024, in the same peaceful manner as the rest of the year.

Fears about flags were not realised. But the fears about illegal flags being displayed at antigenocide and antiwar demonstrations in Sydney and Naarm-Melbourne over the week prior served to highlight the completely skewed values of the Australian political class, which considers the flag of a group it’s deemed terrorist in nature to be more confronting than the yearlong slaughter in Gaza.

Indeed, the furore over the flags was a key issue of last week’s news cycle but what was missing were the condemnations from top Australian officials in regard to Israel having launched a full scale attack upon the sovereign nation of Lebanon, using the same atrocity-ridden approach that it has taken to the Gaza Strip over the last 12 months, which appears to target civilians first and foremost.

Sydney Criminal Lawyers was on the ground at the 52nd Free Palestine-Free Lebanon protest on Gadigal and was awed by the massive numbers of antiwar protesters marching through the city streets.

Over 10,000 marched through the Sydney CBD on unceded Gadigal land on Sunday, in opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and that nation’s recent warring on Lebanon
Over 10,000 marched through the Sydney CBD on unceded Gadigal land on Sunday, in opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and that nation’s recent warring on Lebanon
Amal Naser addressed the crowd. The Palestine Action Group member was key in ensuring that a NSW police attempt to shut down the yearlong anniversary march was foiled
Amal Naser addressed the crowd. The Palestine Action Group member was key in ensuring that a NSW police attempt to shut down the yearlong anniversary march was foiled
NSW police was still banging on about illegal flags
NSW police was still banging on about illegal flags
Palestine Action Group member Josh Lees last week set Radio National host Patricia Karvelas straight in regard to the bias in the outrage over a 7 October vigil his group was holding to mark the over 42,000 victims of the Gaza genocide
Palestine Action Group member Josh Lees last week set Radio National host Patricia Karvelas straight in regard to the bias in the outrage over a 7 October vigil his group was holding to mark the over 42,000 victims of the Gaza genocide
A macabre tally
A macabre tally

Rally

Palestinian orator Assala Sayara
Palestinian orator Assala Sayara

Stop Israel Genocide

A placard portrayal of US president Joe Biden dominating Australian leaders Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton
A placard portrayal of US president Joe Biden dominating Australian leaders Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton

Evil State

Paul Gregoire

Paul Gregoire is a Sydney-based journalist and writer. He's the winner of the 2021 NSW Council for Civil Liberties Award For Excellence In Civil Liberties Journalism. Prior to Sydney Criminal Lawyers®, Paul wrote for VICE and was the news editor at Sydney’s City Hub.

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