It was billed as an evening of peace and unity. And it was, until Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived.
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The crowd, which had been gathering on the grass overlooking the ocean and embracing old friends in shared grief, suddenly took to its feet as one. It booed, and it shouted “shame”. The anger was electric. It vibrated across the beach, to the footbridge where two gunmen opened fire on a peaceful Hanukkah celebration one week before, almost to the hour.
Albanese looked straight ahead, his face fixed in a stare. Moments later, the boos turned to cheering as former prime minister John Howard, who last week said the attack was about antisemitism over guns, walked in, waving.
The fury towards Albanese was palpable. It had already been simmering before he arrived. “If Albo comes, I’ll … ” said one member of the crowd, trailing off before finishing the sentence. A mourner ran at the prime minister as he arrived, prompting police to hold him back.
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