'We are united against oppression' - Sheffield Palestine protesters voice support for hunger strikers
Protesters gathered outside a local landmark for their final demonstration of the year, “in support of all oppressed communities across the globe.”
Dozens waved Palestinian flags outside Sheffield Cathedral yesterday (December 21) in a show of support not only for those facing war in Gaza, but also hunger strikers here in the UK.
Justice secretary David Lammy has been embroiled in controversy over recent weeks as pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested after defacing military aircrafts with spray paint began a hunger strike in prison.
So far, two of those involved in the month-long strike have been admitted to hospital. MPs, including Your Party’s Zarah Sultana, have criticised the government’s response and access to medical facilities in prison.
In what is the last planned gathering of the year, local pro-Palestine campaigners carried banners reading ‘support the hunger strikers’ and ‘stop genocide in Palestine’ while singing songs in support of those in Gaza.
It comes after supporters gathered on the staircase of the town hall lobby on December 17, calling on councillors to speak to them about the hunger strikers.
Mushier Elfarra, chair of Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told The Star: “We are here, to pass a message at Christmas to the Cathedral and the people of Sheffield that we wish peace in Palestine for Christmas and every year - as we wish for peace all over the world, for everybody, regardless of their background, ethnicity, colour or religion.
“The government is treating [the hunger strikers] as criminals - those people aren’t criminals, those people are trying to stop genocide by spraying paint on jet fighters, by closing drone factories that have killed thousands of Palestinians, are still killing them every day even inside their homes.
“Those are manufacturers in Britain. So those are trying to express their freedom of speech, freedom of action - [saying] that they don’t agree with our government in supporting these factories, investing in these factories and yet they are treated like criminals.
“In the past many, many similar activists were acquitted based on the fact that they were trying to stop a crime, they were not committing a crime, but now the government are taking a different stance which to be honest is extremely rejected by us.”
At the same time as protesters gathered outside the cathedral, a separate group - calling themselves ‘Justice for the Hunger Strikers’ - were claiming responsibility for throwing red paint across a statue of Queen Victoria in Endcliffe Park.
Meanwhile, critics of the pro-Palestine movement have highlighted a rise in antisemitic attacks, notably the recent shooting of a Manchester synagogue and a massacre on Bondi Beach in Australia where 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration on December 14.
Mushier personally decried the actions at Bondi Beach, adding: “I wish safety to all people who are recovering, to all people who were injured, and I definitely think it’s a crime that should not be allowed or tolerated.”
He went on to say that Palestinians have been facing consistent attacks, and called his movement one of unity.
“We are here to sing the message against racism - regardless of religion, regardless of colour, regardless of religion,” he continued.
“We are saying that we are all united against oppression anywhere in the world.
“We are not against any religion or any race. We have beautiful Jewish supporters with us. We are united because we fight for justice, not only for Palestine, because injustice anywhere in the world is something we will campaign against.
“That’s what people of Sheffield are proving. The Palestinians back in Palestine they are watching these marches, they are watching these activities, and they are feeling helped.
“They are feeling not as abandoned as they are because the world has abandoned Palestinians.”