Over 100 people took part in a vibrant boycott action in Sheffield today: prepared with songs and good voice over 50 walked through Waitrose singing various boycott songs, including the new Cokebusters!
The crowd then moved on to Aldi – their staff did not seem to mind too much; Waitrose meanwhile had blocked all the isles and called the police – who remained at a respectful distance and enjoyed the concert.
After the ICJ ruling, then the dust is thrown; suddenly the UK government halts all funding. Another form of collective punishment. We need to reinstate funding for UNWRA
On Friday, a vigil for Palestine with HealthCare workers for Palestine. On Saturday a boycott action. Details in images below
Boycott actions are a way of engaging people directly, talking to them about how their own purchasing choices can make an impact and hep bring them to account for their actions. Please joins us this Saturday.
Louise Haigh’s office on Chesterfield Road was once again the site of a protest on Friday (Jan 26th) as outraged Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Supporters once again demanded something better from the Heeley MP and Labour frontbencher. This was the second week in a row the local Heeley 4 Palestine group had taken to the streets.
We are pleased to say last week’s protest has been well written up in the Star so no need for us to go on about it :))
This follows a successful protests outside Jill Furniss’ office by Palestine Solidarity supporters in November and Paul Blumfield’s office too in December.
Friday 26th January:
🇵🇸 5pm. Join our protest outside Sheffield train station, calling for Ceasefire Now!
🇵🇸 6.30 pm. Health workers 4 Palestine will once again hold a vigil for all health workers massacred by Israel: all welcome, outside Sheffield Town hall.
Saturday 27th January:
📢 Building the Boycott 📢
🇵🇸 12.30 pm: join us for a local Boycott action: assemble outside Sheffield Town hall;
🇵🇸 2pm. After the action, come to the BDS workshop at the Central United reform church S1 2JB to discuss and plan effective ways to build the campaign to make Sheffield an Israeli Apartheid free city.
🇵🇸 Note: the next national demonstration in London will be Saturday 3rd Feb.
Justice Now Campers visit the Snig Hill police station in Sheffield to report people who have joined the IDF in contravention of the Foreign Enlistment Act and may have participated in war crimes.
You can try this at your own police station . Also, you can call 101 and ask for progress on INC 546 10 Jan 2024. Here are the names submitted:
Simon Levy has submitted videos of himself on social media ransacking a Palestinian woman’s underwear in a typical invasive and sexually exploitative moment. He has also filmed himself declaring that only Hebrew will be taught in Gaza as he stood on the rubble of a school waving an Israeli flag.
Meanwhile Zecharia Deutsch is still holding on to his job at Sheffield University as chaplain while advocating murder to Gazan civilians.
All are in possible contravention of the Foreign Enlistment Act and all should be investigated for possible war crimes.
The camp came to a dignified close today with supporters chalking messages of solidarity in front of the town hall where Lena and Sahar have been camping out.
“We were overwhelmed with love” said Sahar, urging people of Sheffield to keep the pressure on the government and the council and “keep fighting for Palestine”.
The day started with a moving tribute to the journalists and media workers who have been killed as members of the NUJ read out their names. Shortly after over 300 people attended a rally, having marched from Ellesmere Green in a mood of celebration for the camp, defiance against continued lack of local action and anger at the complicity of the government.
The rally was visually stunning with the huge Palestinian flag being carried by supporters and held aloft throughout. Followed by speeches from Sahara, Lena, Musheir – chair of Sheffield PSC – and others, the crowd celebrated the achievement of Lena and Sahar and all their supporters. A team effort!
Sahar congratulated the achievement of South Africa in taking Israel to the ICJ and Lena told a parable from her childhood warning of efforts to divide us and conquer. “We are all human” she said “and must fight for freedom together”.
There is an imperative not to lose the energy of this camp nor the wide support that has emerged as a result of it.
Tere is a meeting between the Coalition and the council on Friday 19th January. A key issue will be what is the council going to do now.
We continue to demand a declaration of an Israeli apartheid free zone and some political leadership and bravery here.
On 20th January after a ‘bigride4 Palestine’ across town, there will be a rally at the Town Hall followed by a meeting meeting for school students in the Central United Reform Church 1.30 – across from the Crucible Theatre
This wil be an opportunity for school students to find out about ways of supporting Palestinians, inside and outside school. Refreshments will be provided – all welcome. (Interested parents are welcome too!)
