The group Sundays for Peace Wagga Wagga gathers every Sunday at 1 Fitzmaurice Street. Photos: Oliver Jacques.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack says he has not been swayed by a pro-Palestinian group that has protested outside his Wagga office every week for the past year, telling them: “You can’t fix Gaza from Fitzmaurice Street.”
Sundays for Peace Wagga Wagga meets every Sunday at 1 Fitzmaurice Street from 10 am to 11 am.
“We gather to protest wars all over, but specially Israel’s genocide against Palestine,” Greens volunteer and organiser Sam Ryot said.
“We’re ostensibly outside Michael McCormack’s office but we’ve migrated closer to the road to get some community engagement.”
The group carries signs including “Reinstate aid for Gaza” and “Free Palestine”, while asking passing motorists to honk in support.
Mr Ryot said many motorists did, but the reaction from Wagga locals was mixed.
“Someone threw a water bottle at us last week, and people give us the finger,” he said.
“They might yell things like ‘Get a job’ or ‘Why don’t you go over there and fight yourselves’ and other intelligent things like that.”
Mr Ryot said the group had targeted Mr McCormack because of his support for Israel.
“He does nothing to help the cause of Palestinians and has sided with Israel in every instance since the conflict started,” he said.
Greens volunteer Sam Ryot believes Wagga should care about what’s happening in Gaza.
Mr McCormack has dismissed the protesters as “publicity seekers”.
“I don’t agree with them and nor do most of Wagga Wagga,” he said.
“They should do something useful, like visit a hospice or do charity work. They’re there every Sunday; I have better things to do.
“I’m not changing my view. What happened on 7 October, 2023, is an absolute disgrace and I stand by that. I don’t like seeing people on either side being killed. I’ve met with this group many times, but there’s no point arguing with these guys because they don’t listen.”
The 7 October attack was the event that triggered the current war between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking more than 250 people hostage, according to UN accounts. Israel then launched a major military campaign in Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction.
“The acts of 7 October were primarily in resistance to Israel’s occupation. Israel used that as carte blanche to destroy tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, homes and businesses,” Mr Ryot argued.
Mr McCormack said he respected the group’s right to protest, as long as they didn’t disrupt his office, but maintained that the conflict had little relevance to Wagga.
“At the end of the day, you can’t fix Gaza from Fitzmaurice Street,” he said.
Mr Ryot disagrees.
“It’s an issue for humanity. Anyone who has an ounce of humanity should be worried that innocent people in Palestine are dying for no reason,” he said.
“Any others concerned with the conflict are welcome to join us on any Sunday.”
