South Coast trade union leader Arthur Rorris has attended hundreds of protests and marches over his decades-long commitment to activism but nothing compared to the massive pro-Palestine march over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

"This one smashes every other protest I've been to out of the ballpark," Arthur said as he left the bridge, still buzzing from the huge turn-out.

"To think there were 100 to 150 thousand people turning out with just one day's notice and in driving rain; I was totally stunned. If we had a few weeks to get organised I believe we could see a quarter of a million people rally in The Domain."

The trains from the Illawarra to Sydney were packed all morning as placard-carrying protestors headed to join what was the first anti-war march ever held on the famous bridge. There were many families headed north, and for many this was their first protest.

"Our reason for joining the protest today is to support all the men, women and children of Palestine," said Emma Pitcher from Dapto on the train to the rally with her husband and toddler.

"As a mum of four, I count my lucky stars that my children are safe and get to live in a country that values the lives of the people who live here," Emma said. "I'm marching to send a message to the Australian government, who through arming Israel they are supporting genocide. "

Bulli mum Alice Henchion-Grant decided to march and take her kids "because I've been watching the devastation of the Palestinian people over and over since 2023. Witnessing a genocide on my phone and feeling desperate, increasingly desperate about the inaction of our government and desperate about the reporting in our media, and the vilification of those who have dared to speak out. It feels good to be walking with others."

Wollongong Councillor Deidre Stuart joined many Illawarra-based Greens to march in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

"Those who turned out today care deeply, and what our government is doing in our name is absolutely not OK," Deidre said.

"This protest was so important because our Australian government has not been listening. I don't think Australians want to be complicit, as we are, in the atrocities occurring every day in Gaza. We especially want Australia to cut military ties with Israel and to impose strong sanctions and formally recognise Palestine."

Former Greens councillor Cath Blakey told The Illawarra Flame the horrors being witnessed daily in Gaza must end.

"It's a genocide we are witnessing in real time. There were so many signs at the protest about the children who are suffering and there was a real desire for our government to be on the right side of history," Cath said.

There was huge support in the crowd for one of many Wollongong-based signs, saying 'NO ILLAWARRA STEEL FOR GENOCIDE'.

"In Wollongong we manufacture armoured steel that ends up in Israel's armoured vehicles and that chills me to the bone," Cath said.

Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes joined a number of Labor MPs, federal and state, to join the rally in a call for an end to the killing.

Union boss Arthur Rorris, however, called on our politicians to do much more, saying that came through loud and clear at today's huge protest.

"The anger of the people towards our politicians, and we are gobsmacked that Premier Chris Minns couldn't read the room," Arthur said.

"Surely the size of today's protest and the circumstances of how it happened sends a powerful message to our politicians. Sanction Israel now to say you can't kill kids. If they don't see the anger and frustration in the community, they shouldn't be in their jobs."

Mangerton's Theresa Huxtable told the Flame: "Today's walk across the bridge for Palestine restored my faith in humanity. It was so important, as it will send a message to our government to get a bit of spine and recognise the state of Palestine. Do the right and noble thing and impose sanctions on Israel, stop arming the IDF, and call Israel out for their genocide in Palestine."

The Illawarra Flame thanks Cath Blakey, Deidre Stuart, Natalie Moran and Theresa Huxtable for their support in providing images to support this article.