180,000 in London for biggest ever Palestinian solidarity march. But its not just size that matters
180,000 have marched in central London, possibly more, in the biggest ever UK show of solidarity with Palestine. These things are noticed across the world not least because Britain once had the mandate for Palestine.
The BBC don’t seem to have reported it so far but they don’t usually report demonstrations at the weekend (there are exceptions see 23rd March 2019 for a very full report of a People’s Vote march)anymore than the Sunday papers used to.
The Guardian/Observer seems to have relented on that and its on-line editions do have a report.
The size reflects the strength of feeling about Palestine and Gaza and speaks directly to those who claim no one is interested in such things.180,000 on the streets of London is not ‘no one’.
Yet it wasn’t just size. Perhaps because of the moment, with some travel restrictions still in place, there were also demonstrations around England and Wales (and I presume in Scotland and Northern Ireland although I haven’t seen reports).
I was on the one in central Cardiff which BBC Wales did report-suggesting there were 400 present. I’d put it a little higher but it depends on what time you counted the numbers I suspect as people come and go.
Speaking to some of those involved in the organisation its clear that this demonstration represented a public face of a mushrooming solidarity movement across Wales with groups being formed all the time. The protests across England will have been the same- building solidarity with Palestine rooted in local communities and workplaces.
In a short a new movement is being born and while there are some veteran activists still around many are coming into activity for the first time. The situation in Gaza in recent days has been dreadful but from it can still spring hope and organisation for change.
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