Brisbane leaders unite against antisemitism at City Hall rally

2 hours ago 2

Seven days on from the horrific event that claimed the lives of 15 people at Bondi Beach, members of Brisbane’s Jewish community and their supporters filled City Hall on Sunday evening in a stand against antisemitism.

Security was tight for the event, with all attendees having to submit to security screening before they entered City Hall. But that did not deter more than 1000 people who filled the auditorium, with even more outside to watch the event on the big screen in King George Square.

Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg told the packed auditorium the events of December 14 changed the lives of Australian Jews forever.

Attendees hold a minute’s silence for the Bondi victims at Brisbane City Hall on Sunday.

“The loss of 15 innocent, incredible people is a wound so deep that we wonder if we will ever truly recover,” he said. “And, to be honest, we’re holding our breath to see what happens next.”

Steinberg said the parallels to history were clear, noting the Jewish community held an event in the very same auditorium in 1933 to raise money for Jews fleeing Europe, as the Nazis rose to power in Germany.

“Eighty years ago, after the Holocaust, the world seemed to unite around a saying – ‘never again’,” he said.

“Today, I ask you to ensure that we are never here again, never in this auditorium or anyone like it, talking about the plight of the Jews. Because what starts with the Jews, never ends with the Jews.

Crowds gathered outside City Hall ahead of the event.

“And in memory of those who perished in Bondi, I pray and I hope and I implore each and every one of you – no matter your role or station in life, which neighbourhood you live in, which congregation you attend, who your family are, or who your friends are – I want you to use your strength, your inner strength, to make sure that ‘never again’ is not just a platitude.”

An emotional Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner fought back tears as he spoke of the victims of the Bondi massacre, particularly 10-year-old Matilda.

“This would have been their perfect day out, but it wasn’t a perfect day – it was Matilda’s last day, and it was the last day her family will ever be happy,” Schrinner said, his voice breaking.

“That’s [Matilda’s parents’] words. Can you imagine the inextinguishable pain? The innocent, happy daughter taken from them, stolen from them?

“Matilda is our daughter now. Matilda is Australia’s daughter, but our nation let Matilda down.”

Schrinner said political and religious extremism had been allowed “by our weakness as a nation” to grow in Australia. And he had a subtle criticism for the federal government, which has been working with states to further strengthen gun laws.

“Don’t be distracted. This is not about guns – there will always be other weapons,” he said.

Police sweeping King George Square ahead of the event.

“And this is not about immigrants. Just ask Ahmed al-Ahmed, the man from Syria who bravely disarmed one of the shooters, or Amandeep Singh, the passer-by who rushed to help the police restrain the other shooter.

“Both immigrants, both protectors of the innocent, both true Aussies.”

Premier David Crisafulli said the events at Bondi last Sunday had been two years in the making.

“We will do everything we can to make sure that tragedy like this never happens again, but we must address the root cause,” he said.

“It was those who either turned the blind eye, or indeed even were prepared to stand with those who were prepared to incite violence against people based on faith.

“We can’t do that as a nation – for the sake of those 15 innocent lives lost, for the sake of who we are.”

Other speakers included Opposition Leader Steven Miles, Catholic Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, Anglican Archbishop Jeremy Greaves and Holland Park Mosque Imam Uzair Akbar.

“Australia’s beautiful country is our shared home. It is a place where people of different faiths, backgrounds and histories live side by side,” Akbar said.

“That diversity is not an accident and it is not a weakness. It is a trust and it comes with great responsibility – the responsibility to protect one another’s safety, the responsibility to speak with restraint and integrity and the responsibility to stand together when hatred threatens any one of us.

“Solidarity does not mean that we all think the same. It means that we agree on something far more important, far more greater – that human dignity is not negotiable, and that violence against civilians is never, never acceptable.

“Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and all forms of dehumanisation feed from the same source – fear combined with silence.

“When good people hesitate to speak clearly, hatred finds room to grow.”

Before the doors opened, a small crowd sang Advance Australia Fair outside City Hall, followed by a rendition of Am Yisrael Chai – meaning “the people of Israel live”.