1,500 Demonstrate Against Terrorism at the United Against Terror Rally in Parramatta, Sydney
Around 1,500 people, including Indian-Hindus, Persians, Christians and Jews, gathered in Parramatta to take a public stand against terrorism at the United Against Terror rally.
On Sunday, 6 July 2025, I joined around 1,500 people in the heart of Parramatta, Sydney, to take a united stand against terrorism. I estimate that the crowd was about one-third Hindus, one-third Persians from Iran, and one-third Christians and Jews.
It was a relaxed, peaceful demonstration of love and solidarity against hatred and terrorism worldwide. About five police officers, all together in a group at the back, simply listened to the presentations without needing to do anything.
Uplifting Stand against Terror
The unity and diversity were genuinely uplifting against the backdrop of the antisemitic attacks in Melbourne a few days earlier.
The speakers shared stories from around the world about minorities who faced discrimination, were driven from their homes, and were murdered. Emphasis was placed on the torture of specific ethnic groups and the destruction of places of worship.
The warning was clear: we might be safe now in Australia (unless we are Jewish), but beware, hatred is coming. My own sense is that many Christians naively think, “That can never happen to me!”
But every decent Australian should be horrified at the slaughter of innocents. Jesus expects us to respond:
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me (Matthew 25:41-43).
Guest Speakers
Here are some of the presenters:
Ashwani Trackroo, a representative of the Hindu community, talked about the torture and genocide of Kashmiri Hindus. He is a passionate advocate for peace and understanding and a valued member of the Kashmiri Pandits Association (KPA), Sydney.
Ahoura Vahidi, an Iranian-Australian medical science student, is passionate about the regime change in Iran.
Robert Gregory, the CEO and President of the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), reminded us of the atrocities of 7th October 2023 and of the hostages still held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
Colonel Michael Scott served over 30 years in the Australian Army and is now the founder and CEO of The 2023 Foundation, a global charity dedicated to combating antisemitism.
Mark Leach and his daughter Freya presented. They are the face of the Never Again is Now (NAIN), a Christian-founded, grassroots movement with people from all backgrounds and faiths, committed to confronting and ending antisemitism in Australia.
Tamer Iskandar, an Egyptian-born Christian, brought stories of his upbringing, where he was taught to love Jesus at school, unlike the indoctrination of hatred many children receive under Islamic regimes.
Mark Leach (right) with two of the singers. Image credit: Jim Twelves.
Being surrounded by people with such a longing for peace is what I enjoyed the most about the afternoon.
That so many different campaigners for peace shared the same stage, and every single one of them was warmly received, was the icing on the cake.
More news and updates can be found at The Australian Jewish News here.
___
Image by Jim Twelves.
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Great story Jim!!!
Thank you, Warwick. For me the picture of Mark Leach talking with the two with the combined Australian and Israeli flags was beautiful!
This is great news! Thanks for the encouragement Jim. May those committed to peace and goodwill be inspired, made bold and take action at every opportunity – until peace and harmony are the norm!
Thank you, Jim, for attending the rally and providing this report. Just a pertinent fact that was absent from your article. Brisbane-based organisation Minority Impact coordinated the Sydney rally as well as simultaneous rallies held in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Mark, Many thanks for the pertinent fact of Minority Impact. I must say, I was not aware of their coordination at the event, I simply assumed that these various campaigners had come together somehow.
Good to see this, but did it achieve anything? Has any politician from anywhere addressed it?
Anne, an extremely valid point, thank you. Personally, I don’t see politicians taking any notice. Even if there were 10,000 on the streets I don’t think they would be moved, they would still be seen as a ‘minority’ and therefore not able to affect their vote.
So what was the point? I think it was to ‘raise awareness’, to start conversations. I am so grateful you have taken the trouble to read my piece and entered into a discussion. I think we don’t need to shift the politicians, we have to shift Australians. When we raise a generation of Australians who have genuine respect for one another then we can see one atrocity at a time rolled back. I don’t think we can do this in our own strength at all, it will have to be God. But until then, I simply want to stand with those who suffer and show solidarity with them.
Thank you for this article, Jim, and for making us aware of this rally demonstrating against terrorism in Australia. I appreciate your response to Anne’s question as well. The laws are available to prevent demonstrations and the acts of violence we have seen in Australia since Oct 7th, the will to act by our leaders and by extension the police is another matter. If demonstrations, as you have shared, can shift Australians, then this may in turn change the mindset and will of our leaders.
Stephen, thank you for your contribution. You have made me think through the political/social dynamics further. Two reflections:
1. It was so encouraging to be in a demonstration that was so positive in character and the small police presence did not have to do a thing! We are bombarded with media reporting ‘violent clashes’, so much so that Mr & Mrs Citizen are often distracted from stepping out because, subliminally, they think it could get ‘violent’.
2. I suspect that you have a point. ‘If’ such demonstrations, together with people ‘writing to their local member’, eventually ‘turns our culture back’ from one that ‘simply lets anything go’ to one that says ‘enough is enough’; then perhaps, we may find the situation where more and more nations stand up and demand the rule of law internationally.
There is a long way to go, I am not holding my breath!