Nationwide rallies against antisemitism

Fifteen rallies against antisemitism took place across Australia on Sunday 26 October, with organisers reporting strong attendance from both Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

The “Australians Against Antisemitism” events, originally planned for 14 cities, expanded to 15 when Indigenous Christians in Alice Springs organised a last-minute picnic gathering.

Reverend Mark Leach, co-founder of Never Again is Now which organised the events, told The AJN that the rallies represented something unique globally.

“No one that I know of around the world is doing this sort of simultaneously mobilising non-Jewish folk to stand up for Western civilisation in this way, and for the Jewish people and for Israel,” he said.

The events drew different demographic mixes depending on location. In Sydney and Melbourne, attendance was roughly evenly split between Jewish and non-Jewish participants.

However, in other centres, approximately 90  per cent of attendees were Christian, according to Leach.

The core message delivered at the rallies was clear and unified.

“Antisemitism is un-Australian, it has no place in our country,” Leach explained.

“When you look at the Australian values that unite us, the religious hatred that we’re seeing and have seen for the last two years doesn’t belong here, and we need to stand up against it.”

Leach believes the current wave of antisemitism represents a deeper civilisational challenge that will require sustained effort over decades to counter.

“This has been brewing for 40 or 50 years, and it’s going to take us a generation to turn it around,” he said, calling for changes to what is taught in schools and universities.

The rallies succeeded in energising participants, with organisers reporting overwhelmingly positive feedback and volunteers asking about next steps.

“It actually energised lots and lots of Christians all around the country,” Leach noted.

“Everyone’s feedback has been incredibly positive over the last 24 hours, including lots of people who helped organise it going, ‘Okay, what’s next? What can we do next?'”

At the Melbourne rally, Reverend Heather Packett, a teaching pastor at Crossway Baptist Church, pledged unwavering support from the Christian community.

“With every ounce of my being, with every opportunity I have, with every small piece of influence that I can have over followers of Yeshua, I pledge to ensure that they understand that Hashem’s covenant with Israel has not finished,” she said.

Victorian MP David Southwick, Member for Caulfield, used his Melbourne address to call for an end to local hatred despite the Gaza ceasefire.

“The ceasefire may have happened two weeks ago in Gaza, but the ceasefire of hate in Melbourne has not stopped here now, and it must stop now,” he said, questioning why protests and attacks against Jews continue.

Iranian political activist Daniel Taghaddos told the gathering in Sydney’s Martin Place, “I am heartfelt to be standing among this great crowd, carrying Australian flags, Israeli flags and true Iranian flags, standing for true Australian values.”

The great-great-grandson of William Cooper, Michael McDonough, also addressed the Sydney event. “We are all standing up, united, against hate and prejudice,” he said. “Antisemitism is an evil cancer that has infected the human race … hate must never divide us, it must be removed from our hearts.”

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, unable to attend the Canberra rally due to legal proceedings, sent a message warning of the broader implications of antisemitism.

“If we do not rid ourselves of the plague of antisemitism here in Australia, the character of our country will be forever changed,” she wrote.

“Antisemitism is the concern of all Australians. Theirs is a war on the West. And antisemitism is just another weapon in their anti-Western arsenal.”

Leach urged Jewish Australians to engage their non-Jewish friends and colleagues in the movement, emphasising ongoing educational efforts.

“We are continually putting on events that are directly aimed at helping educate their non-Jewish friends and turn them into allies for a strong Australia,” he said.

He said the success of these rallies suggests many peole may underestimate the level of support that exists for the Jewish community.

“The majority of Christians, the vast majority of Christians, are very supportive of the Jewish community and the secular Aussies the same,” Leach observed.