Hundreds of protesters have descended on Sydney to call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for more action to combat anti-Semitism in Australia.
More than 400 people, waving the Star of David and banners, descended on Martin Place, in Sydney’s CBD, for the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest.
Attendees heard from a number of speakers at the protest calling on Albanese to take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitic attacks across Australia.
Signs held by protesters read: ‘Albo the world is watching’, together against hate’ and ‘stop the hate buddy’.
One sign read Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s words ‘Penny Wrong’ after her support of a UN motion for a path to a Palestinian state.
The protesters heard from Jewish leaders and politicians that recent anti-Semitic attacks had brought Australia to a “tipping point.”
“Terrorism lives among us and can even impact peaceful societies like ours here in Australia,” Hagit Ashual, Director of Creative Events and Operations at the Zionist Council of NSW, told attendees.
The event follows two such incidents across Australia and was held at the site of the Lindt Cafe siege, which brought Sydney to a standstill a decade earlier.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Sydney’s Martin Place to call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take more action against anti-Semitism (pictured)
The ‘Enough is Enough’ event follows two recent anti-Semitic attacks across Australia and was held at the site of the Lindt Cafe siege to mark the tenth anniversary of the terror attack
Ms Ashual said Australia’s Jewish community was “waiting 14 months for action from our government”.
“We are here to demand that our government take strong action to end anti-Semitism and return peace to our streets,” she said.
“We live in a democratic society, and we cherish that, but I have to ask: how is it acceptable that week after week, for over a year, aggressive and violent demonstrations have taken over our cities?”
There’s more to come.