The Convergence to Canberra drew pro-Palestine protesters to Parliament House in July 2025. Photo: Palestine Action Group Canberra Facebook.
UPDATED, Friday (8 August): Police warned there may be minor traffic disruptions when a pro-Palestine march is held down Commonwealth Avenue on Saturday (9 August).
The March for Humanity will start at 12 pm in Civic before moving along London Circuit, then Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and will finish at the Parkes Place Lawns.
“Minor traffic disruptions may occur during the march as it moves from the City to Parkes. Drivers are asked to consider their route if they do not want to be delayed when driving nearby,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
“ACT Policing supports the right of people to peacefully protest; however, the disruption of business activity or other criminal activity will not be tolerated.
“Traffic disruption updates will be provided when required via ACT Policing social media accounts.”
THURSDAY: About 100,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last weekend to call for an end to the war in Gaza. Now, protesters in the ACT will hold their own march across a central Canberra bridge.
This Saturday (9 August), the March for Humanity will start at midday in Civic before crossing Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
Organised by Palestine Action Group Canberra, the rally will call for the Australian Government to impose sanctions on Israel over the war.
“We are calling on our government to follow international law,” the action group’s committee member Diana Abdel-Rahman said.
“We are signatories to all these conventions – why did we sign up to them if we’re not going to follow them?
“We are asking for Australia to implement sanctions to stop the genocide and stop the starvation. We need to do more.”
Israel has denied the reports of starvation in Gaza.
Ms Abdel-Rahman said the action group has been holding protests almost every week since the war began almost two years ago.
She said protesters also wanted Australia to stop directly providing arms to Israel.
“Having this march is one way that we can come together as a community and voice together what we are feeling, the horror, the anger and the anger towards our government, which simply has not moved,” she said.
In March 2025, Bowral artist Mary Lou Pavlovic projected an image of the Palestinian flag onto the National Gallery. Photo: Supplied.
Ms Abdel-Rahman joined the rainy march across Sydney Harbour Bridge last weekend herself and said it was incredible.
“It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever attended,” she said.
She was hoping 2000 people would attend the rally over Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
The March for Humanity will start with speeches at Civic Square, in front of the Canberra Theatre, at 12 pm on Saturday (9 August). The rally will leave from there, cross Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and finish at the lawns between the National Library and Questacon. Visit the Palestine Action Group Canberra’s Facebook account for more information.
