Workers' Weekly On-Line
Volume 54 Number 25, October 12, 2024 ARCHIVE HOME JBCENTRE SUBSCRIBE

Stand with Palestine! Stand with the Resistance!

International Days of Action in Support of the Resistance and Calling for an End to US/Israeli Genocide

Worldwide, militant mass actions were held on October 5 and 6 to mark the one-year anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood carried out by the Palestinian Resistance.

Hundreds of thousands throughout the globe were demonstrating in countless towns and cities. These actions affirmed that one year after the act of resistance on October 7, 2023, and after one year of the genocidal US/Zionist war on Gaza, that is now expanding to Lebanon, the peoples will not be intimidated or stopped from speaking out for Palestine and its right to be. They affirmed the Palestinian people's right to resist and liberate themselves from occupation.

In London on October 5, 300,000 people marched to Downing Street, denouncing Britain's complicity in the US/Israeli war crimes. Marching from Russell Square and Bedford Square, some were holding Lebanese and Iranian flags and banners stating: "We do not stand with genocide" and "Zionism is racism", with many chanting: "Free, free Palestine." People were very determined and organised, with people marching in their blocs, such as the Jewish bloc, with Jews against Genocide and other groups. There was also a Palestine Solidarity Campaign bloc, as well as others, with huge contingents joining each. Many had their own personal placards, and there were banners from Lewisham and other parts of London, as well as from Birmingham, Manchester, and many other parts of England, as well as from Scotland and Wales.

In Whitehall, a rally was held with eloquent speeches, including from the former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf. Mr Yousaf is reported as saying: "I am here very simply because in almost a year, just shy of 365 days, we've seen a complete and abject failure of moral leadership from the UK Government. They continue to send arms to the Israeli government that has, of course, committed war crime after war crime and the fact that the international community has failed so badly means we don't have a ceasefire, the massacres continue, hostages continue to be kept captive. So I'm here to join what looks like millions here on the streets of London to say enough is enough."

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said that the marches were a necessary mechanism for "ending tyranny and oppression". Lindsey German, Jeremy Corbyn and other speakers spoke most passionately about the rights of the Palestinian people.

The sentiment of the marchers was at one with the resistance, as was evident from the banners and slogans. Broad sections of people from all walks of life, including families, participated, and it was noticeable that even being in a wheelchair did not prevent people from joining.

Actions were also held in other cities including Manchester and Dublin in Ireland.

In Edinburgh, thousands of people joined a similar demonstration, which included a silent march to commemorate all civilians killed. That event was organised by Scottish Friends of Palestine and the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee.

People from across Wales marched through Cardiff. The "Britain Stop Arming Israel" protest assembled on Churchill Way in Cardiff city centre. It called for the UK government to take meaningful action to secure an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, including an arms embargo and sanctions on Israel.

The people are not going to stop their actions, and they stand firm with the Palestinian people and the resistance, expressing the sentiment, "We Are All Palestinians!"





London


Edinburgh, Scotland



Dublin, Ireland

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