Brisbane's morning rush hour descended into chaos today as pro-Palestine activists brought the city's iconic Story Bridge to a complete standstill in a dramatic display of civil disobedience.
In a meticulously planned operation, protesters chained themselves to the bridge's structure during peak traffic hours, creating gridlock across the city centre and sparking a major police response.
City brought to grinding halt
The protest, organised by the group Friends of Palestine, saw demonstrators unfurl massive banners reading "Free Palestine" and "End the Siege on Gaza" as commuters sat stranded in their vehicles during the morning peak.
Queensland Police were forced to close multiple lanes on the critical arterial route, causing ripple effects across Brisbane's transport network that lasted for hours.
Activists make bold demands
Protest organisers issued three clear demands to the Australian government: an immediate end to military aid to Israel, official recognition of Palestinian statehood, and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.
"We will continue to disrupt business as usual until our government stops supporting genocide," one organiser told the gathered crowd, their voice amplified through a megaphone over the sound of frustrated motorists.
Police response and public reaction
Specialist police units including the Negotiation Unit and Water Police were deployed to manage the situation, with officers carefully cutting activists free from their chains after hours of standoff.
Public reaction was sharply divided, with some commuters expressing fury at the disruption to their daily routines while others voiced support for the protesters' cause despite the inconvenience.
This demonstration marks the latest in a series of increasingly bold protests by pro-Palestine groups in Australian cities, reflecting growing global concern over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
