Nakba day is is commemorated on 15th May. It marks the date when the British Empire gave up it’s mandate on Palestine and 750’000 Palestinians were forcibly removed from their land and homes, many forced into refugee camps and substandard living conditions. The persecution, ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinian people continues to this day. Israeli politicians are now open about their plans for Palestine, while most western governments sit by and do nothing, or worse, continue to supply Israel with the weapons and means to commit the mass murder of civilians.
Recording details:
0 - 3.46: ‘Our Friend from Gaza” Palestinian man, from Gaza, speaks at the Brighton Nakba demonstration/commemoration about his experience and that of his friend and family in Gaza. (Please note, he was introduced as ‘our friend from Gaza. He gave permission for his speech to be used, he also gave his name, but there have been times when the Israeli occupying forces have targeted the families of those who speak out.)
3.36 - 30.28: Silent march through the streets of Brighton, organised by the Stop the War Coalition and Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign . About 2000 people walked through the city, in silence, to the sound of a drum and bell ringing. They carried ribbons bearing the names of 4000 children, of the over 18’000 who have been murdered by Israel in ongoing genocide in Gaza. The march took around 2 to 2 and half hours, there’s just under 30 minutes here. People handed out flyers explaining the Nakba and what was happening, the vast majority of the public were supportive, aside from a few far right, white supremacists near the end, with Israeli flags. They have a well documented history in Brighton of attacking Palestinians and their allies, including Jewish people who speak up against the occupation and Genocide. There’s a section at around 20 minutes, when the march passes a children’s playground. There is a stark contrast of kids playing here, and the horror those in Gaza face. Starting on the Level, the march wound through the city and finished on the seafront, after the speeches, the group held a few minutes silence, looking out to sea, toward Palestine, finally wrapping up with a chant of ‘Free Palestine’. Throughout the day, both the public and those involved, commented on how moving the whole activity felt.
30.28 - End: William Dalrymple, at the London Nakaba demonstration on 17th May, speaking about the historical context to Nakba, the failure of the British Empire and the racism of Winston Churchill. Half a million people attended, one of the biggest demonstrations held in London. It was barely mentioned by the British media.
https://www.un.org/unispal/about-the-nakba/
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/nakba-palestine-catastrophe-explained
Please see link below for photographs
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