Black flag demonstration in Dublin to mark Gaza dead
dublin |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Monday February 02, 2009 19:43
by David L - IPSC
A hundred people assembled on Saturday afternoon, January 31 in Dublin city centre to mourn the dead of Gaza. The demonstrators marched around the central pedestrian zone on O Connell Bridge in a silent protest against the massacre that Israel perpetrated.
Wearing black and carrying black flags to signify mourning, the demonstration was called by the IPSC (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign) in remembrance of the dead and injured of Gaza, and to protest the ongoing Israeli siege still levelled against the survivors.
The protesters braved the damp and cold in order to mark the human toll of the 22-day Israeli invasion of Gaza. So far, some 1314 Gazans have been killed, including 412 children. 5,300 are injured (some of whom will die), including 1,855 children and 795 women.
During the invasion 21,000 buildings were damaged or levelled, leaving about 100,000 homeless. While it will cost billions and take years to rebuild, Israel is still imposing a stringent siege on the survivors, once again punishing the powerless.
Comments (10 of 10)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Some more pictures of the demonstration
Fair play to the IPSC for organising this protest and also for their part in giving leadership on this issue. But where were the Left, especially the larger groupings? Can it be that it's not worth turning up if you can't have your party banners on display?
A good few members of Sinn Féin were there, for what it's worth. Does it really matter that much?
Quite probably there were members of various left groups there (certainly there were WSM members attending), but you didn't recognise them. Maybe we should get tattoos of Lenin or Bakunin on our foreheads to assist you forlorn lefty trainspotters.
Several Eirigi members were in attendance.
I should've mentioned in the report that we asked folks not to bring banners. I should have mentioned it, and thanked all the folks from the various groups who turned up for respecting the request. So thanks to all who turned up - Leftists, Republicans, None of the above.
If Shinners are just "nationalists" why are the other parties so afraid of sharing power with them, and what are the supposedly crazy economic policies that Ahern and co were shouting about before the last election? Michael McDowell was calling Sinn Féin the "Far Left" at one point wasn't he?
It seems that that SF are too socialist for some, and not socialist at all for others. Odd.
I personally think that tattoos would be a great idea, but Lenin? Surely not left enough for some. What about the New Economic Plan of 1926? What about Krondstadt?
More photos
Thanx for organising this...good idea to all wear black and carry black flags and a simple statement/banner explaining why we were there.
That uniformity helped to stand out in the hyper consmer O'C St. It felt good to participate in it with folks from different groups and perspectives
The cycle of protest reaction to bombardments and then the predictable diminishing numbers is worth reflecting on.
As is the relationship between the protest movement and those who step out in risk in nvda...whether it was Caoimhe and Kathy
managing to get into Gaza during the bombardment or those who took high risk action where the bombs and wepaons for Israel are manufactured. In 06 it was the Raytheon 9, this time it was the 6 folks in Brighton who acted at EDO http://decommisioners.wordpress.com/
These actions may go down when there is a lot of mainstream media attention on the issue and feet on the street. But the resisters need to be accompanied, and the issues raised, through the courts and jail (2 of the EDO folks remain on remand in jail at the present time...........the legal stem is designed to isolate and crush the resister. Solidarity is the only anti-venom....doesn't take much to drop these EDO 2 a solidarity postcard or letter and we know how effective that is for their safety and spirit in the jail context. You can find the address on ths link
http://decommisioners.wordpress.com/
A world-wide event to commemorate the children killed in the Gaza conflict has been prompted by a Derry initiative.
Next Sunday, anti-war groups in cities from Beirut to San Jose and Helsink to Amman will read out the names and ages of the 400 children who perished in the Israeli onslaught. Other centres taking part include Edmonton in Alberta, Nablus on the West Bank and the Gulf State of Dubai. The Derry Anti War Coalition says that “more centres are signing up as word spreads on the net.”
The idea was launched by the DAWC on January 25th when members gathered in Waterloo Place in Derry city centre and read out the names. Said Grainne Ketelaar: “I compiled the list of more than 400 children from daily reports on a humanitarian relief website. Reading the names aloud was an attempt to put a human face on cold statistics.”
After photographs of the Derry reading were published on the internet by local photographer George Rowe, the DAWC was contacted by a women’s group in Beirut which wanted to spread the idea further.
“We were amazed when the email from the women in Beirut arrived,” says Grainne Ketelaar. “It was heartening to know that people in the Middle East were aware of our expressions of support here. We are delighted that the initiative has now spread around the world.”
Gaza is the same size as the area administered by Derry City Council, DAWC spokeswoman Goretti Horgan points out, adding that, “The scale of death and destruction the equivalent of a hundred Bloody Sundays in four weeks.
“Today, despite the ceasefire, the siege on Gaza has not been lifted, the war on the occupied Palestinian territories has not ended, and Palestine remains hostage. We gather to show our solidarity with the people of Gaza, to show that we have not forgotten the deaths of hundreds of children and that we will not ignore the on-going blockade.”
“These events are organised under the auspices of 'Mothers Across the World for Gaza', but you don't have to be a mother to take part. We invite everyone from Derry who wants to express their support for the people of Gaza to come along on Sunday. Whether it is to listen or to share in the reading of the names, everyone will be welcom,e.”
The reading of the names of the children will tabegin at three o’clock on Sunday 8th February, at Newmarket Street, between the Richmond Centre and Foyleside.
A simultaneous event will take place outside The Balor Theatre in Ballybofey, County Donegal.
(Further details of the global event are available from the Facebook group Mothers Across the World for Gaza, to be found at http://tinyurl.com/mothersGaza
(Further information from: Goretti Horgan, 07973528772, or Grianne Kettelaar, 07511925109)
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