Cardiff Solidarity for Palestine protest, November 2023. Photo: OwenBlacker / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0 DEED
The Palestine movement in Cardiff goes from strength to strength Jamal Elaheebocus reports
Hundreds gathered on the rainy streets of Cardiff to continue the weekly protests against the genocide in Gaza.
The protest, organised by Cardiff Stop the War, PSC and Stand up for Palestine, gathered at Cardiff Central station. The crowds heard from several speakers about the ongoing genocide and the British government’s support for the Israeli state, as well as calling out the failures of Keir Starmer’s Labour Party to condemn Israel’s actions.
Protestors also heard from the singer Charlotte Church, who has been maliciously attacked by the press and politicians over the last week following her organising an event bringing together singers in support of Palestine. There was a fantastic reception for Church and placards reading “you will never sing alone”.
Crowds then marched down St Mary’s Street chanting “Ceasefire now” and “Rishi Rishi shame shame, for the crimes in your name”. There was an especially passionate and furious energy to the protest, with many articulating their outrage and horror at the “flour massacre” where Israeli forces shot dead over 100 desperate Palestinians trying to get food aid.
The march finished at the Nye Bevan statue on Queen’s Street, where Charlotte Church led a sharing circle, involving singing and chanting and spreading awareness of the boycott of complicit companies such as Starbucks.
It was, as always, a diverse crowd, made up of old and young and a range of races and religions. The resilience and continued determination of the protest organisers and the crowds who have turned out every weekend for 5 months is hugely inspiring.
Stop the War Cymru will be hosting a meeting on the genocide Gaza, with Andrew Feinstein and Lindsey German amongst the speakers, on 7th March at 18:30 at the Sophia Suite, Sports Wales National Centre in Sophia Gardens.
Before you go
Counterfire is growing faster than ever before
We need to raise £20,000 as we are having to expand operations. We are moving to a bigger, better central office, upping our print run and distribution, buying a new printer, new computers and employing more staff.
