Major update in Sydney Harbour Bridge protest battle as police reveal why they're so against pro-Palestine march
Up to 100,000 protesters could descend on the bridge on Sunday as part of the 'March for Humanity', the court heard.
NSW Police lodged a prohibition order in the Supreme Court against the planned rally organised by Palestine Action Group.
Authorities argued the event posed a risk to public safety due to crowd crush and could even lead to clashes and hostility from competing protests.
A previously planned counter-protest in the harbour tunnel has already been cancelled.
Pro-Israel group Never Again is Now applied for permission to hold its protest at the same time as the Palestine Action Group's rally but has since withdrawn its application.
The group wanted permission to block the harbour tunnel in recognition of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
NSW Police's barrister Lachlan Gyles, SC, said violent clashes and crowd crush were highly likely if both protests were to have gone ahead.
Mr Gyles argued police could not ensure the safety of up to 100,000 protesters crossing the bridge in such a short time frame.
'This is really unprecedented … in terms of scale, level of risk, lack of time to prepare, and of course location, which is one of the main arteries in one of the largest cities in the world,' Mr Gyles told the court.
Mr Gyles told Justice Belinda Rigg the court needed to be 'concerned about being seen to condone' the rally if there were violent scenes or if ambulances were blocked from reaching patients.
He added the prohibition order was 'necessary' otherwise police would not have the powers that they would normally have to control such a massive crowd.
Court proceedings were further stalled on Friday after 100 pro-Palestine supporters packed into the courtroom and sat on the floor.
Justice Rigg said she would reserve her decision until 10am on Saturday - just one day before the rally is set to take place.
The planned march would lead protesters across the Harbour Bridge from Lang Park near Wynyard towards the US consulate in North Sydney.
It has been scheduled to begin at 1pm.
If police succeed in barring this from happening, the protest would simply be rescheduled, activists have said.
Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson said his concerns would not rest even if the courts allowed the march to continue.
'Fifty thousand people at Lang Park, whether authorised or unauthorised, has significant public safety risk, crowd crush,' he said under cross-examination.
'I'm personally concerned about that.'
Palestine Action Group and protest organiser Joshua Lees told the court the march was 'unstoppable'.
Mr Lees argued the group did not seek 'confrontation with police' but rather, wanted to work with authorities to ensure the success of the protest.
'We want to work with them to make this a successful event,' Mr Lees told the court.
'What we don't want to see but is a real, real possibility, which is that if we lose in the case here today.'
'If [the protest] is unauthorised, that opens up the ability for the police to use extra powers to make arrests against peaceful protesters … an outcome we absolutely do not want to see.'
Mr Lees added the rushed planning of the event was necessary to produce a maximum effect while the Israel-Gaza war was still making global headlines.
Palestine Action Group had offered to postpone the protest until August 24 - an offer Mr Lees said was still on the table and which police have yet to accept.
Any prohibition order would not prevent the protest from going forward but would make it illegal for protesters to block roads.
Barrister Felicity Graham represented the group and told the court that people turning up to protest was a foregone conclusion
Instead of trying to frivolously prevent the march, police should instead focus on trying to make it safe, she said.
'It would create a very fluid, dangerous and unstable situation if the court grants this application,' Ms Graham said.
'It's unclear exactly what would unfold, but it's clear police wish to have powers to arrest people simply for being on a road.'
Five Labor MPs have already vowed to attend the rally despite Premier Chris Minns urging them not to.
Stephen Lawrence, Anthony D'Adam, Linda Voltz, Cameron Murphy and Sarah Kaine have said they will all march across the bridge.
Other politicians including Greens and independent crossbenchers have also confirmed their attendance.
Despite gaining momentum, Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna previously told 2GB the protest was still 'stoppable'.
He also accused its organisers of sending out mixed messages to the public which has created confusion about what exactly is happening.
Justice Belinda Rigg will reveal her judgment at 10am on Saturday.
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