One of Wollongong's most prominent tourism drawcards, the Sea Cliff Bridge, was closed to traffic on Sunday afternoon as protesters marched in support of Palestine. The event, organized by Wollongong Friends of Palestine, was part of a nationwide day of action and was approved by police.
The protest began with a crowd gathering at Coalcliff's Leeder Park before marching across the bridge. Spokeswoman Safaa Rayan said targeting prominent landmarks was a deliberate tactic to make a statement. “I guess this march across the Sea Cliff Bridge will be historic,” she said.
Wollongong pharmacist Yossra Abouelfadl, who co-wrote an open letter from health professionals calling for government action on Gaza, addressed the crowd. “Health professionals are respected in this nation, and today we call on this government to respect our demands,” she said.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge and Wollongong councillors Kit Docker and Andrew Anthony attended the protest. A small counter-protest group of about six men, who waved the Australian flag and one bared his buttocks at marchers, were moved on by police.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said specialist units, including Traffic and Highway Patrol and PolAir, were deployed to manage the protest. Road closures and diversions were in place from 1:45pm to 3:15pm, with police advising the public to avoid the area from 1pm to 3:30pm.
This is the second time the Sea Cliff Bridge has been closed by a protest since its opening 20 years ago. In 2012, about 3000 people marched across the bridge to protest coal seam gas.
