Israel-Gaza conflict: Thousands protest in London for end to 'massacre and arms trade'

In my 20's and 30's, in the 1980's and 90's, I marched! Gay rights, Disabled rights, Women's rights, anti apartheid, anti-Thatcher... You name it, I marched!  

I have not marched for years! All of the above are in many ways sorted in the United Kingdom. One thing leads to another, and I stopped marching a decade ago. I do, however, appreciate those that still do march or demonstrate: from the bikers that would line the route in Wooton Bassett to the Million Man Marches that punctuate and stab at our consciences. 

Nothing has hit my heart to make me want to march, or, find an excuse not to, until these last few weeks! What is happening in Gaza is just so horrific and disproportionate that we all need to make an effort to do something-ANYTHING! to say that we do not agree. I mourn with all of the families of the dead, be it the Soldiers of Israel, or the women and children of Gaza, Every corpse is an individual with  loved one's to mourne. Each death is a tragedy. However, there is a concept of proportion! A concept that this war does not seem to understand or have any regard too.

I will not go off into a rant now about proportion, what I want to do is to salute my fellow citizens of the United Kingdom, who stood up to be counted today on the streets of London. Be they Jew, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, any religion or non, Marching and demonstration still has it's place, the issues may be slightly different, but the imperative for the citizen to protest for or against an issue is a right that we would lose at our peril. Our Police force has not got a great history in the implementation of this civil liberty, but today gives me hope for the voice of the Peoples of the United Kingdom to stand up and be heard in a Democracy. We just need our Government of the Con-Dem-Nation, to listen to the views and concerns of the Her Majesty's Subjects, and their employers!!!

Israel-Gaza conflict: Thousands protest in London for end to 'massacre and arms trade'

Organisers say 150,000 turned up to demonstrate in an event which also called for sanctions against Israel and a lifting of the blockade on Gaza

Thousands of people opposed to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza have taken to the streets in London in a mass demonstration to try and intensify pressure on the British government.

Arranged by a compendium of anti-war campaigners and religious organisations, the march, from the BBC’s headquarters near Oxford Circus to Hyde Park, was claimed by organisers to have had as many as 150,000 in attendance.

The Met Police told The Independentthat it was entirely peaceful and no arrests were made.

Protesters’ travelled past the US Embassy en route to the central London park, waving “Free Palestine” placards and flags, while chanting that the Israeli offensive is a “massacre.”

Vocal opponents of Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, including Lib Dem MP David Ward and Labour politician Jeremy Corbyn, also took part in the protests.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the core organisers of the event, said in a statement yesterday that it wants the march to bring a stop to UK military and industrial collaboration with Israel.

“[The demonstration] will increase the pressure on the British Government to introduce an immediate arms embargo on the State of Israel,” it said.

A samba band entertained protesters while a number of flags made by football fans were held above the crowd.

A Jewish father told a Press Association reporter that while many of his Jewish friends were equally as outraged by the apocalyptic images emanating from the region, they were too afraid to join the march.

Dan Rosenberg, 43, said: “It is horrific what is going on in Gaza. It is collective punishment. I don't know how any human being can stand back while this is happening.

“But it is difficult being here. We have seen the anti-Semitic attitudes and you feel very threatened and scared, but we feel we have to stand up and represent.

“Even standing here we feel quite uncomfortable. You hear people say they think the Jews run the media. Those beliefs are unpleasant, ignorant and racist.

“I have Jewish friends who wanted to come but they felt uncomfortable being here.”

A teenager also described how if she was in the same situation as Palestinians, she would also want the international community to stick up for her.

“People shouldn't stand by and watch an injustice. I have little brothers and sisters and if I was in that situation I would want people globally to fight for me,” Yasmin Rackal, 17, said.

Meanwhile, a similar protest in Cape Town, South Africa, today was said to be one of the biggest in its history.

Between 30-50,000 people demanded "decisive action from the South African government against the Israeli attacks, killings, displacement and destruction of the Gaza Strip," reportsiAfrica.com.

source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/israelgaza-conflict-thousands-protest-in-london-for-end-to-massacre-and-arms-trade-9659180.html