A national day of action, a ‘Siege on Labour’ was called by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) to take place on 4 August. The brief was to target Labour offices up and down the country with protests against the complicity of the Labour government in Israel’s genocide on the people of Palestine. The demands included calling for a two-way arms embargo and the resignation and trial at the Hague of foreign secretary David Lammy for the vile war criminal he is.
This was a much welcomed and needed course of action for the Palestine movement to take. Branches of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) showed up in strength to answer the call.
There were 15 protests in towns and cities around the country. FRFI branches were involved in organising six of these and attended and supported another two. The non-sectarian, democratic nature of the events with open mics was a breath of fresh air. On the whole, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) had very little to do with the day of action. Forces beyond the grip of the PSC are organising effective protests and are beginning to reinvigorate the movement.
Southwark
FRFI South London called a protest outside Labour HQ in Southwark which was attended by over 60 people. Speakers raised the links between Labour’s support for genocide, their racist attacks on migrants, their austerity and their historic role as an imperialist party. One participant led the chant ‘Vietnam, Algerie – Palestine vaincra aussi!’ (Vietnam, Algeria – Palestine will win as well) making the link with other anti-imperialist struggles and their victories over their oppressors.
Tower Hamlets
East London FRFI helped to organise the protest called by PYM, Nijjor Manoush, Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Network and South Asians 4 Palestine outside Labour MP Rushanara Ali’s offices in Tower Hamlets. Ali is already disliked amongst the community for her abstention on the ceasefire vote, so it is no surprise that more than 150 east London locals came out to express their disgust at the Labour Party’s historical and continuous support for British imperialism and Zionism. FRFI supporter Kotsai spoke at the demo about the Labour Party, imperialism, the criminalisation of Palestine solidarity, and the need to organise outside Parliament and against the British state in its entirety.
Ealing
Groups including Ealing Friends of Palestine, PYM and West London FRFI organised a protest against the Labour Party offices in Ealing, west London. The protest was attended by over 100 people who chanted in support of the Palestinian resistance and for sanctions against the Zionist state. Placards stated that the Labour Party is committing genocide; messages were stuck to the office windows calling out the local Labour MPs Deirdre Costigan, Rupa Huq and James Murray, and Labour council leader, Peter Mason for their complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.
Tottenham
North London FRFI supported the protest outside David Lammy’s office in Tottenham organised by PYM.
Birmingham
Birmingham FRFI, alongside Birmingham Queers For Palestine organised a lively four hour long picket of the West Midlands Labour Party headquarters in West Bromwich.
Liverpool
FRFI Liverpool called a noisy protest outside the office of Kim Johnson MP. Lots of chanting in a very windy corner of Liverpool 8.
Manchester
FRFI Manchester braved the storm and joined a very wet protest outside the constituency office of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.
Newcastle
FRFI Newcastle and Red Storm Collective organised a protest outside the Labour Party Northern Regional Offices demanding sanctions on Israel, solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and that all charges and investigations into Palestine activists be dropped. The protest moved on to a near by Home Office building, from which immigration vans operate to carry out dawn raids. The link between Labour’s state racism and it’s support for Zionism were made clear.
Labour Party – Zionist Party!
Isolate the Zionist state – sanctions now!
Victory to the people of Palestine!
Defend the right to protest – drop the charges now!
