Cork rally for Gaza 05.06.10
cork |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Saturday June 05, 2010 16:26
by John Jefferies
A few hundred people turned up today in Cork city centre to voice their outrage at the murder of aid workers by Israeli commandos.
Organised by the Cork Branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign the rally started at the plaza outside Brown Thomas at the junction of Winthrop Street and Patrick Street.
There was a mix of people from all spheres of life in the city including a sizeable number from the Middle Eastern communities. Speaker after speaker condemned Israel's action as an act of terrorism and a violation of international law. Speakers included city councillors Chris O'Leary (Independent), Mick Barry (Socialist Party), Ted Tynan (Workers Party), Senator Dan Boyle (Green), Jim Bowen (Ireland Palestine Solicarity Campaign), Edmund Smith of the Indpendent Workers Union, a speaker from UCC students union, speakers from the Palestinian and Turkish communities in Cork and a speaker on behalf of the Cork Gay Pride March which also took place in the city today.
Comments (15 of 15)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15I should have also mentioned that the the rally was chaired by Kate O'Sullivan with enthusiastic chanting on the loud hailer from Driss Belmajoub and others.
A minute's silence was observed at the end of the speeches after which 10 black balloons were released, nine representing those killed in the attack on the mv Mavi Marmara and one for the people of Palestine.
More photos to be added here later by Ray from the WSM.
Cllr Ted Tynan (WP)
The 10 black baloons ready to take off
Balloons float over Brown Thomas
I was there. I want to thank ALL who came for their expression of their humanity. Regardless of the appearance of individuals and banners or flags carried (I regard the Pirate Flags more appropiate for the Israeli Destruction Forces) this protest was my place to be today - to voice my outrage about the illegal blockade of Gaza, the murders, the kidnapping and illegal act of piracy and to express my mourning for the at least 9 members of the flotilla and the death of Rachel Corrie and thousands of other innocent human beings in the occupied territories and in Israel and the middle east. My admiration also to all those Israelis in Israel and around the world who courageously speak out with us against an inhuman ideology and its horrible results. Inspite of our condemnation of Israels actions we must not forget this.
Just one more thought - it is enough to tell the truth, we need nor exaggerations and no hatred. The facts speak for themselves. There is no doubt that some on the "Marmara" tried to defend themselves (though without guns but with whatever they could find). They had the right to do this because the attack by the IDF was legally an act of piracy. To attack a passenger ship in international waters is unjustifiable. The killing of civilians is unjustifiable. The inhuman treatment of the kidnapped is unjustifiable. The collective punishment of the people of Gaza is unjustifiable. The ethnic cleansing of the occupied territories is unjustifiable. PERIOD . The veil is getting thinner.
I was at today's protest. I called for the ending of the Israeli occupation of Palestine alongside Socialists, Students, Local Councilors, Human Rights Activists and, yes, Hamas supporters.
The fact that I campaigned alongside these people does not mean that I support their ideals, or that they support mine.
Today's protest represented the people of Cork expressing our outrage at the killing of aid activists by Israeli commandoes, the commandeering of civilian vessels in international waters by a military force, and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. It was not a political rally. It was NOT a declaration of support for any political entity. And to suggest otherwise is both incorrect and provocative in the extreme.
-Orbett
please zoom in on the controversial headbands, there is no Arabic writing which is on all hamas headbands...yes they are green, yes hamas have green headbands, however many entities throughout the islamic and arab worlds wear green headbands with no hamas connections. possibly they were expressing hamas support, hope not, but possibly if people knew more about the middle east they wouldn't jump to conclusions. there were politicians, socialists, mothers and children, buddhists, members of the gay community, countless other groups.nobody was excluded. do you complain about israelis who are crying out death to the arabs when celebrating our Irish civilians kidnapping??
today was a huge success.please do not focus on a handful of people who you disagree with when there was a huge crowd, and make it the focus. anyone else tired of this kind of game playing??
Before this week I thought the Israelis had some semblance of honesty and decency. Having viewed the scenes on TV, having watched one Israeli spokesperson after another say 'they deserved it, we did nuttin wrong!", having read the newspapers, having got tired of justifications for slaughter, I eventually turned to the internet.
There I found Indymedia.ie, it was like having the blindfold taken off,
The stream of information showing, . . . NO: proving that the Israelis have told one lie after another was commendable - my heartfelt thanks to those who took the time to wade through the flood of Israeli lies to ferret out the truth.
As far as I can gather, almost ever word uttered by an Israeli spokesperson this week, has been a lie, including 'a' and 'the'
Like most people I presume that because I myself am generally honest, so to are most people - but my eyes have been truly opened while searching for news of what happened to the flotilla this week, the campaign of lies and propaganda instituted online by the supporters of Israeli in this past week is unsurpassed in modern human history
Tell your friends!
Israel has been implicated in the theft of our passports and the kidnapping and beating of our citizens. Any Irish person who continuers to support this bunch of thugs should be considered a traitor to the nation...
Glad to hear that you've seen the truth, mate. Now do something about it! Write to your government, sign the Cairo Declaration, organise a protest in your area! Only we. as an international community, have the power the change the situation in Palestine.
yes indeed.Obama has to get on the case,before Israel's Likud boneheads pulls the house down in their super-samson holier than thou cyclopian myopia.Get out there in front of your Congressman's limo with a placard.My suggestion?How 'bout-
MISTER OBAMA
TEAR DOWN THIS WALL
ICH BIN EIN PALESTINIAN.
Speakers from yesterday's protest
Councillor Chris O'Leary (Independent)
Councillor Mick Barry (Socialist Party)
Dr. Jim Bowen (Cork branch IPSC)
Keith O'Brien (Labour Youth)
Cathal Kerrigan (Cork Pride)
More speakers...
Joe Moore (Socialist Workers Party)
Éamonn MacGabhann (Independent Workers Union)
Councillor Ted Tynan (Workers Party)
Speaker from Cork's muslim community (sorry, no name)
A final pair of photos, of the march sitting down on Cork's city streets.
The march sits down on Grand Parade
The march sits down on Oliver Plunkett St.
The estimate of a few hundred for the Cork protest against the Israeli actions is way too low at a few hundred. At its height, there were 1500 people on the march in Cork on Sept 5th.
This march refers to the 5 June anti-Israel protest and only attracted around 200 people - do not know much about the September march you are refering to.
Well done to the Cork IPSC on a great action!
To Josh,
Great mail, hope you get busy spreading the message.
Some more informaition on Palestine solidarity work at www.ipsc.ie
Cheers,
Ronan
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