A Unified Front Against Hate: 240 Australian Civil Society Groups Declare Solidarity with Jewish Community

SYDNEY, NSW – In a powerful and unprecedented display of national unity, a coalition of 240 Australian civil society organisations has issued a resolute statement of solidarity with the Australian Jewish community following the horrific antisemitic terror attack in Bondi last week.

The joint declaration, titled “Civil society statement of solidarity with the Australian Jewish community,” comes in the wake of a deadly assault targeting a peaceful Hanukkah celebration. It represents a broad, cross-sectoral commitment to stand against hatred and defend the fundamental rights of all Australians.

A Collective Pledge of Support and Shared Grief

The statement opens with an unequivocal message of support: “We stand in unwavering support of the Australian Jewish community… Our deepest sympathy and love goes out to the bereaved families, the victims, first responders, and all those impacted.” This sentiment forms the bedrock of the declaration, moving beyond formal condolences to a promise of enduring partnership.

Emphasising a core Australian value, the signatories assert that “Antisemitism (anti-Jewish racism) should have no place in Australia.” They affirm the universal right for everyone to “feel and be safe in our identities – free to practice our faiths, live our cultures, celebrate with family, and be in community with one another.”

Rejecting Division, Upholding Shared Humanity

The coalition directly confronts the dangerous dynamics of scapegoating and division. “We have seen what happens when a community is singled out,” the statement reads, rejecting efforts to exploit fear, polarisation, and disinformation. Instead, it champions the response of unity and compassion witnessed across the country in recent days.

Echoing the NSW Faith Affairs Council, the groups vow, “We will not let hatred and violence divide us. Across all our cultures and faiths, we will stand united in sympathy, compassion and solidarity.“

A Commitment to Action and Deeper Understanding

Moving beyond words, the statement outlines a proactive, two-fold commitment from civil society. First, it is a pledge to actively defend everyone’s rights to safety, culture, and faith. Second, and crucially, it is a promise to engage in deeper education: “We commit to deepening our understanding of how anti-Jewish racism arises, in order to better identify and prevent it.”

This commitment to learning signifies a recognition that lasting safety requires not just solidarity in a moment of crisis, but a sustained, informed effort to combat the roots of prejudice.

A Broad Coalition for a Peaceful Society

The list of 240 signatories, hosted on the Australia Democracy website, includes a diverse array of organisations representing multicultural, faith-based, human rights, migrant and refugee, community legal, and social service sectors from every state and territory. This wide-ranging coalition underscores that the threat of antisemitism is not a Jewish community issue alone, but a challenge to the very fabric of Australia’s multicultural democracy.

The statement concludes with a simple, powerful final line, repeated by all signatories: “We stand with the Australian Jewish community, in love and solidarity.”

This collective stand serves as a defining national response, demonstrating that in the face of targeted hatred, Australian civil society chooses unity, courage, and a reinforced commitment to a peaceful and inclusive society for all.

https://australiandemocracy.org.au/solidarity-with-jewish-community