A thousand days of genocide

On Saturday, July 4, various Palestinian solidarity groups from across Tipperary and Clare gathered in Banba Square in Nenagh to mark the 1000th day of Israel’s genocide of Palestine - and in Gaza particularly.

Ironically, the event fell on US Independence Day - once a beacon for freedom and liberty - but sadly, last Saturday, it served to highlight the US/West’s complicity in killing, dispossession and injustices visited upon the Palestinian people.

The gathering received a tremendous boost by the presence of the internationally renowned human rights activist and founder of Code Pink, Medea Benjamin. As part of her whistle-stop tour of Ireland, she and her partner, Tighe Barry, were hosted locally in Nenagh for a day. Ms Benjamin was invited to speak at the vigil by MC and leader of the weekly vigils in the town, Sean O’Farrell.

Ms Benjamin spoke in positive tones about the change in attitude of American citizens as a result of Israel’s conduct over the last three years. “The majority of people in the United States are more sympathetic to Palestine than they are to Israel. That is a sea change in the United States.”

To highlight this, Ms Benjamin made the gesture of inviting all children in the crowd to come forward and join her, stating that “this is the future and this is what we are fighting for… the collective future of humanity.”

Her address was greeted with exuberant cheering and chanting from the large crowd in attendance. The vigil itself opened with Tipp-to-Gaza founder, Jimmy Nolan, speaking to the crowd about the roll imperialism has played, and continues to play, in the genocide of Palestine. Jimmy masterfully linked how Ireland suffered at the hands of British imperial designs and how these ambitions were transferred to Palestine - and subsequently adopted by USA governments.

Speaking of the people who fought for Irish independence over 100 years ago, Jimmy had no doubt “that if they were alive today, they would be part of our work for Palestine. Freedom, is freedom is freedom.”

The former chair of North Tipp IPSC, Eileen Brannigan, addressed the crowd in her customary eloquent and human style.

“We maintain by our very presence that it is unacceptable to us as caring human beings that children are ever targets of war.”

Eileen did not wallow in despair but offered actions which local Tipperary people can follow to mark their objection to the horror in Gaza and the West Bank by joining the Apartheid Free Zones campaign.

“In the absence of leadership from our governments, states and international institutions, we show leadership, and we act where they will not.”

50-METRE BLANKET

The day was further enhanced by song from locals Damien O’Donoghue and Gerry O’Brien with renditions of ‘Bright Blue Rose’ and ‘Only Our Rivers Run Free’.

Clare’s Carol McNamara and Nenagh’s Kate Walsh gave moving background to Palestinian poetry, which both recited with great emotion.

The demonstration was further enhanced by the presence of Craftivism’s poignant 50-metre long crocheted blanket, which consists of a patch for every 10 children killed in Israel’s horrific assault on Gaza. It was laid out in the square during formal proceedings.

Afterward, the assembled crowd lifted the tremendously long piece across to the Courthouse where they chanted and sang in solidarity with Palestine.

After the event, many of the group retired with Ms Benjamin to the Abbey

Following this, she continued on to Shannon Airport where a large encampment demonstration opposing the use of our airport for US military support was taking place.

From a sporting perspective, the event vocalised support for the Drop Allianz campaign with the GAA and the Stop the Game campaign demanding Ireland’s match with Israel this October be cancelled outright.

Nenagh Friends of Palestine hold a weekly vigil each Saturday from 12-1pm outside the Fianna Fáil offices in Banba Square.