"At dawn on Friday, people came in their thousands, in their many colours and their many tribes, to be back in the sea. In this time of darkness, let's spread light, love and compassion, the crowd was urged, before thousands took surfboards and rescue boards, or simply swam out to join together in a mammoth circle in the sea, facing the middle of the beach."
"Fifteen innocents were shot dead here in minutes by high-powered rifles allegedly carried by the father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram. Sajid was shot dead. Naveed was shot too, but survived. From hospital, he has been charged with dozens of offences, including terrorism and 15 counts of murder. The park footbridge at Bondi, a scene of violence less than a week ago, has reopened."
"The footbridge from where the gunmen fired has been reopened. On the wall, someone has sketched a menorah in chalk. There is a bee drawn too, in remembrance of the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda. But the bridge that was once the passage of thousands of innocent visits to the beach each day will be forever marked now. A stain that cannot be erased, a memory that cannot be forgotten."
The sun rises early, hitting the south of the beach before chasing shadows north. Hanukah was being celebrated when darkness returned during a mass shooting. At dawn thousands gathered to return to the sea, forming a circle on surfboards and calling for light, love and compassion. The water provided solidarity, but unity on land across Sydney remained fragile amid political division. Fifteen people were shot dead in minutes by high-powered rifles allegedly carried by Sajid and Naveed Akram. Sajid died; Naveed survived and faces dozens of charges including terrorism and 15 counts of murder. The park footbridge where the gunmen fired has reopened with chalk memorials.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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