February 21st Train Station: Palestine is not for sale
Keeping Palestine visible, shouting out for justice and encouraging supporters driving by, campaigners gathered again in front of the station : the sale of Palestine was wholeheartedly rejected by Palestinians and all!
February 15th London demo
A coachload from Sheffield Chesterfield and Rotherham made some noise for Palestine. We were just a few of over 150000 people who came to make their feelings known outside the US embassy and through the streets.
February 12th Mahmoud Zahware
We showed a film about the importance of protection from internationals observing what is happening but even this , Mahmoud told us, cannot now deter many crimes against Palestinian people, such is the aggressive nature of the settlers. You can find out more about the evening here
February 7th local boycott actions
There were three areas in Sheffield where supporters set up to encourage shoppers to boycott Israeli goods as part of a city wide campaign to create an Israeli Apartheid free zone.
Here are the page Hall crew and below supporters from Heeley gather round their stall outside Lidl.
Lidl management asked leafleters to go off Lidl land and were quick to remove boycott stickers on the Israeli avocados. In conversation they claimed they could not do anything and had to place them on the shelves. It was made clear that direct contributions to the Israeli economy were in breach of article 25 of the Rome Statute which concerns personal responsibility and aiding and abetting.
February 6th Friday night rally
Bitter cold. No mic. Amazing chanting, passion and warm spirit by all those who came as well as the tooting supporters
Friday rally 31st January, shows tremendous support
A tremendous effort of solidarity this weekend, 24th and 25th Jan
In the wake of the ceasefire it could be easy to relax but in the wake of Trump’s scheme to deport 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza we must redouble our efforts to demand justice for Palestine and its imprisoned supporters. A train station rally on Friday, a town hall protest on Saturday midday followed by a lively rally at Wakefield prison for the birthday of one of Palestine Action’s imprisoned comrades.
At the Town Hall we were privileged to hear a magnificent statement from a young Jewish woman from Sheffield
Friday night protest, 24th Jan
Sheffield bloc at the London demo 18th January
A coach of 57 people from Rotherham Sheffield and Chesterfield went to the London march uncertain what we would find given the ban by the police.
What we found was as usual a peaceful and loving demonstration desperate for a ceasefire seeing at as the first small step to justice for Palestinian people – which must include an end to the occupation.
And of course we also found that the police were determined to enforce this ban with many arrested some with considerable violence on the part of the police.
We carried the Stop Arming Israel flag which became a focal point for interviews and a repository for symbolic gifts for Gaza.
Station protest Friday 18th Jan
A bitter cold night and all teetering on tenterhooks to see if the ceasefire die to come in on Sunday will take hold.
In the meantime since its announcement the bombardments continue and over 100 have been killed in Gaza by Israeli Occupation Forces
Coalition Open Forum 15th Jan
On a cold winter’s night in Sheffield it was inspiring to see nearly 60 people turn up for a development meeting. The numbers of young people who joined us and the quality of their thinking was a special thing.
After brief introductions and an appeal from Musheir Al Farra to redouble our efforts after a ceasefire to help rebuild Gaza, we split into themed groups to discuss future direction of the Coalition and to see how we might ensure supporters can feed in ideas in the future and so collaborate and coordinate more effectively.
BDS – emphasis here was on neighbourhood groups and how they could be supported. Brightside and Hillsborough group have been very successful on persuading shops and take aways to stop selling coke.
Local democracy – this group wanted to develop and encourage work with councillors cross parties to devise effective strategies to achieve our goals with the Council
Education – Two main proposals were advanced. Firstly, that we should organise a ‘beginners course’ on the history of Palestine, that would counter many of the myths that are recycled by the mainstream media. Secondly, that we should have some talks addressing contemporary issues related to Palestine/Israel.
Stop arming Israel – there was a suggestion to spread our findings about factories in Sheffield to all types of local media and whatever large media bodies that would put the word out.
the other main suggestion was that we engage in targeted demonstrations; the point of these demonstrations should be to demonstrate that we could (and should) do a blockade.
Big ride to Boycott Barclays 11th January
A BIg Ride round Sheffield joined other activists protesting outside Barclays Bank, a key investor in Israeli Apartheid and Genocide.
Train station demo 10th Jan
Excellent turn out and response from passers by . In spite of the bitter cold we loudly sent warm solidarity greetings to Gaza and all Palestinians.and handed the arrest of Netanyahu – in spite of Poland’s refusal to abide by the rulings of the international court
Station protest pays respects and remembers Shahd’s family
At an emotional protest at Sheffield station once again received with many hoots and toots by passers by, about 50 activists paid respects to Shahd and her family four of who were murdered by an Israeli attack on 2nd January. Shahd, whose victory in the employment tribunal after being accused of anti-semitism was highlighted on this blog, has said how much this support has meant. Yiu can find out more background in the excellent article in Now Then magazine. Thank you Sheffield!
Silent vigil to remember Gaza
About 120 people came in the cold and wet to march in silence, but for a drum beat, to Sheffield Cathedral on Sunday 22nd December. Gathering in a circle when they arrived, individuals lay shrouds or candles to remember those murdered during the genocide
Last Friday protest of 2024
An excellent Friday protest once again. Around 50 people once again shouting out for Palestine followed by a station sit-in
AMRC protest closes factory
Boeing have partnered with Sheffield University Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in order to investigate increased efficiency to produce weapons. Weapons that will be used in Israel.
Today students and members of Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid demonstrated against this at lunchtime. The factory was closed for the whole day.
We hope to return with greater numbers and force longer closures.
Final fundraiser of the year
Our fundraiser on Saturday 14th December featured an incredible set of films produced by Vanguard, a young people’s film outfit in Khan Younis. With the help of funds from Sheffield Palestine Cultural Exchange (SPaCE) they have replaced equipment destroyed by the Israeli genocide and helped young people make films about their lives in Gaza.
Moving, educational and astonishing given the circumstances it was a testimony to the resilience of young Palestinian people.
The films were preceded by a magnificent meal and followed by an auction that was second to none in terms of entertainment. You should have been there.
In total over £3000 raised on the night all of which will go towards the Emergency Gaza Relief Fund
Blown away by Station Rally and Rainy March
Once again on a cold winters day we gathered at the station for a well attended station protest – supportive honks from passing cars are always a good thing at these and last night there were plenty.
Then today, Saturday 7th December, about 300 people marched from Ellesmere Green to Tudor Square making a fair bit of noise above the wind and rain.
UN Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People, 29th November
A long day’s journey for the Stop Arming Israel Flag joining the flag at Sheffield Town Hall and them in the evening at Rotherham Town Hall too, where after a massive campaign both councils raised the flag of Palestine to mark this United Nations day of solidarity. We have asked for further practical steps to be taken in order to ensure Sheffield has nth9ng to do with the genocide being perpetrated by Israel.
Station Rally 22nd November
About 60 people turned up outside the station once again to shout out for Palestine.
Especially prominent in conversation both with passers by and the speechlets that were given, was the arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Netanyahu. and a sense that the moral climate is changing.
Scholarship Fund AGM, 20th November
The Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund has been offering grants to young Plaestinian women in Gaza and more recently to women in the West Bank too.
We heard from Mona Al-Farra, who comes from Khan Younis, how devastated the school and wider education systems has been since October 2023 but nonetheless with typical Palestinian sumud education contiues. Attempts are being made to bring courses online or to gather people together in make shift classrooms and in this way, we were told, the resistance goes on.
Mona, seen below, in the centre
November 15th: Elbit, Shentstone
A 50-strong team from the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, including students and the Tadhamon choir, travelled from Sheffield and Chesterfield to Shenstone in solidarity with local groups and activists from Birmingham for a lively rally and demonstration outside the factory. For years, demonstrators have taken strong and sustained action against the presence of this Israeli-owned factory and the protests show no sign of diminishing. The day was a tribute to the power of collective solidarity around a core political issue.
November 12th: Mayor’s office
A protest at the Office of Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, drew the attention of those inside to the depth of feeling against Sheffield’s involvement with the arms trade. In particular, the investment in Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre was targeted, with members of the Campus Coalition taking the lead.
