Many seek a socialist alternative to war
London
Tens of thousands of people marched through London on Saturday 27 July from the Israeli embassy to Parliament Square, angry at the continued onslaught by the Israeli state on Gaza. Socialist Party placards with the slogan “Stop Israeli state terror” were eagerly snatched out of our hands (often in return for a donation) and were prominent.
Demonstrators were looking for a solution to the situation and were very keen to discuss our ideas with us, particularly our call for mass democratic struggle in Palestine to fight for genuine national liberation, and within Israel to challenge the government. Mass independent workers’ organisations in Palestine and Israel are also needed.
Many were encouraged to hear about some of the protests within Israel against the onslaught on Gaza, and how protest movements involving both Israeli Jews and Palestinians on housing and workplace rights had been growing over the last few years. Donations of over £400 show that our participation and contribution was appreciated.
Chris Newby
Scotland
Over 4,000 demonstrated in Glasgow on 19 July, 2,500 in Edinburgh on 26 July, and 1,000 gathered on 27 July outside BBC Scotland against the slaughter in Gaza and the BBC’s biased coverage. All the demonstrations were youthful and extremely lively. In Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders police tried to stop people marching but were forced back, with demonstrators holding up traffic on Princes Street and occupying Charlotte Square. With 150 people buying the Socialist over the last few days, it was clear that there is an interest in socialist ideas.
Matt Dobson
Hull
Over 300 people protested in Hull’s Victoria Square on 19 July. Speakers included Nadia Ibrahim a Palestinian student at Hull University. When she attempts to contact her family in Gaza, if she cannot get a telephone connection she worries.
Gill Kennett and Dean Kirk, Independent Labour councillors, condemned David Cameron’s support for the Netanyahu Israeli government.
Phil Culshaw brought solidarity from the Socialist Party, the Committee for a Workers’ International and the Socialist Struggle Movement in Israel-Palestine who are fighting to end the bombing and blockade of Gaza. Socialist Party leaflets were all eagerly taken and 14 people bought Socialist papers to read more of our analysis and programme.
The rally then marched through the city centre, growing to over 400 before stopping outside the BBC building to the repeated chants of “BBC tell the truth”.
Paul Spooner Hull Socialist Party
Lincoln
More than 50 people took part in a protest which was called following a Socialist Party public meeting in Lincolnshire last Thursday.
Participants came from Lincoln’s Muslim population and from Unison, PCS and RMT. The open mic speakers included a 13 year-old girl, who made a series of impassioned speeches about the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.
Nick Parker, secretary of the Socialist Party’s Lincolnshire branch, said: “Our protest sends a message today that ordinary people in Lincoln do not support the shameful slaughter of innocent Palestinian civilians and children and the occupation and siege of Gaza.”
