School children gathered on Bristol’s College Green today in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The event, which has happened every Friday since Hamas launched an attack against Israeli civilians, was organised by School Strike for Palestine, a group of local parents.
More rallies are expected today in cities like Glasgow and Manchester in the first co-ordinated national strike.
In College Green people held placards and banners in a peaceful protest calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza while children of all ages took turns to read poems and express their anger. A child as young as four took to the stand.
Kelly Heart, a mum from Bristol, joined “to represent all the children that are being killed and to be a voice for the innocent people”.
She added “It’s about people being able to live freely in their own country…and peace for everyone”.
It comes as MPs rejected a proposed amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A petition demanding peace addressed to Bristol’s Labour MPs – Darren Jones, Karin Smyth, Kerry McCarthy and Thangam Debbonaire – who all abstained from Wednesday’s vote was signed by children attending.
Green Party councillor Patrick McAllister joined the rally and labelled the government’s actions “disgraceful”.
Charlie Swift, co-organiser of School Strike for Palestine said, “The situation is really awful but there is something really nice about coming together to try and take some kind of positive action in the face of this horrific situation”.
She also called Bristol’s Labour MPs’ refusal to call for a ceasefire “disappointing” and “cowardly”.
The school strike follows a number of protests earlier in the week in support of Palestine, including a sit in at Starbucks in Broadmead.
