
Thousands of people marched on streets of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide on 13 October to support Palestine and commemorate the first anniversary of the attack on the pro-Palestinian protest on the October 7. Unlike some other protest movements, the actions are calculated and organized in order to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza and inspire people to demonstrate against violence there.
In Melbourne the State Library of Victoria was targeted with protestors launching thousands of small paper kites bearing their messages. The kites signify the lives of each child killed in Gaza with this form of art to put in a direct way the impact of the conflict. The sentiment of the kite demonstration was described by Youth worker Lucas Li who had organized the kite display as terms as follows; “We just want to show that enough is enough and also to mourn the dead like we are.” The display has been thought provoking to many of the Melburnians passing by and creating a platform where many can share their thoughts.
At the same time, authorities of Sydney expect one of the largest marches; up to 5 thousand people might take to the streets. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has stressed the importance of security during the event saying, “Our approach will be proportional but we hold the view that this is a permitted protest for a peaceful protest, and that is what we anticipate.” The police have reiterated their working alert to the demonstrators informing them that some of the banners constitute criminal frondements, including the Hezbollah flag or portraits of Hassan Nasrallah , a free speech debate, and public order.
The protests occur at the time of escalating aggression and improvement of the reinforcement measures in Australia. Liberals’ leader Anthony Albanese has urged Australians not to hold ‘provocative’ marches but to respect the passion of different groups and the generally raised tone of emotions on such a significant date. Despite these cautions, organisers in Sydney have said that the events will go ahead regardless of the ban which has spelled out the intentions of pro-Palestinian activists to fight for is freedom of speech.
Such scenes of unity and demonstration are taking place in Adelaide too, where people are coming on streets to support the anti Gaza situation across the country. That all these protests where conducted simultaneously in different Australian cities show that there is a high level of monitoring and interaction with international issues among the Australian people.
The demonstrations are not contrary to a call for debate though, as they pose the following risks: Fears have been raised by some leaders in the community and politicians that such celebrations may fan ethnic and religious rivalries within Australia. Both sides are asking for a word and a conversation so the protests remain as a platform for discussions rather than discord.
He preludes the advancing day, and there is evident expectation as well as dread in atmosphere as the marches continue. Law enforcement has beefed up patrols in all three cities with officers being on the lookout for unnecessary confrontations while protecting the protesters and the public at large. The authorities have, therefore, supported the right to the free assembly while at the same time pledging to ensure that nothing that might lead to heightened tensions occurs again.
The consequences of such actions do not limit themselves to the Australian community level: the actions taken are under full surveillance of the foreign press. The protests also put into consideration the fact that the shock between Israel and Gaza is something that can elicit community actions several thousand kilometers away from the frontline.
With these protests across the country coming to an end as the sun sets, the Australians are left with many things to ponder in as much as the Israel-Gaza conflict, its consequences on the diplomacy and relationship among nations as well as the harmony in this country. Over the course of the next days and weeks, there will likely be additional dialogue and opinion sharing based on these protest as the nation tries to determine its part of the solution to one of the most enduring issues that is facing the world today.