Sydney's Anglican Diocese vs. the Marrickville Gaza protest

While people are generally warmly welcome at churches within the Sydney Anglican Diocese, one church; Marrickville Road Anglican Church (MRAC), is asking some people to vacate its land. Where the church usually calls “come”, MRAC is asking for people to “go”.

Pexels.com; free and unattributable

The background is this:

1.An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023 (from Wikipedia),

2.Pro-Palestine activity, including protests, have arisen since 7 October 2023,

3.For a number of weeks, a pro-Palestine protest action has mostly been conducted upon the church property 332-336 Marrickville Road, Marrickville,

4.The target of the protest is not the church but instead a tenant of the church. The tenant is within a building that is adjacent to the church,

5.The tenant is the Electoral Office of the Hon Anthony Albanese, Federal Member for Grayndler, 

6.This week a letter directed to the protestors asked them to leave the land. Part of that letter is copied here (source: “"Religious events, including of an Islamic nature", Sydney's Anglican Diocese vs. the Marrickville Gaza protest”). The letter is aimed at ensuring the safety of staff and visitors of the church and in part to ensure the quiet enjoyment of the tenants, and,

7.The letter identifies that once the protestors are asked to leave then trespass arises where the protestors remain on the land.

 

I pray that this matter is settled peacefully.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

Note 1: From a risk management perspective the letter’s aim is to determine of a risk avoidance response