Greek Australians played a visible role in Sunday’s historic pro-Palestine protest, where an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people, including broadcaster Mary Kostakidis, joined a mass march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge demanding an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The peaceful march, organised by the Palestine Action Group, began at 1pm after days of legal wrangling and weathered both government opposition and torrential rain.
It featured prominent figures such as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, former foreign minister Bob Carr, and federal MP Ed Husic.
Kostakidis, a longstanding advocate for human rights and a prominent Greek Australian, was among those leading the crowd under the banner “March for Humanity Save Gaza.”
Protesters carried signs, flags, and pots and pans to symbolise starvation in Gaza, with many families, including children, participating.
While police initially expected around 10,000 attendees, the turnout exceeded all projections. By 3pm, police halted the march citing safety concerns due to crowd size, issuing geo-targeted texts and redirecting participants mid-bridge.
NSW Police officials later said the event was one of the largest and most logistically challenging protests in Sydney’s history.
In Melbourne, ‘Greek Australians for a Free Palestine’ joined a simultaneous protest that attempted to cross the King Street Bridge. However, police blocked access, with riot officers and trucks deployed. The protest in Victoria remained peaceful despite heightened tensions.
The Sydney event marked a major moment of civil mobilisation, with multiple NSW Labor MPs defying Premier Chris Minns’ opposition to attend, including five who had publicly declared their support.
Federal MPs also joined the rally, calling for the Australian government to impose sanctions on Israel and recognise Palestinian statehood.
Josh Lees, lead organiser, described the protest as a “mass march for humanity to stop a genocide,” adding, “Politicians have to now listen to the will of the people.”
Source: The Guardian.
