NSW Police have approved a pro-Palestine protest that will close the Sea Cliff Bridge on Sunday, December 7. The protest, organized by Wollongong Friends of Palestine, is scheduled to begin at 1pm from Clifton and march across the bridge to Coalcliff.
Police and Transport for NSW are meeting to finalize closure times. A police spokeswoman said the authorised protest will proceed following legal advice and consultation. Specialist officers, including Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, will assist to ensure public safety and minimise disruptions.
Police emphasised they support free speech and peaceful assembly but will not tolerate unlawful behaviour or actions that risk safety. Appropriate action will be taken against anyone committing a criminal offence.
This is not the first time the iconic Illawarra landmark has been closed for a protest. In 2012, about 3000 people marched across the bridge to protest coal seam gas. Last month, Wollongong Friends of Palestine spokeswoman Safaa Rayan said targeting prominent landmarks is a deliberate tactic to make a statement against the government's complicity in what she called genocide and the two-way arms trade.
Rayan said organisers expect at least 200 participants, but numbers could rise. She noted that marchers are equally members of the community as drivers who may be inconvenienced.
