“Free, free Palestine!” yelled a man with a megaphone as a crowd of people, myself included, moved through Belfast city centre. Palestinian flags waved everywhere, alongside placards from Socialist Youth, workers’ unions, Sinn Fein (the major nationalist political party) and Amnesty International. There were white flags, black flags, and homemade signs. Some women wore headcoverings. Many young people had Palestinian scarves wrapped around their necks, heads, or faces. Children, waving signs they could not understand, ran away from their parents, threw tantrums, and watched the proceedings from their fathers’ shoulders. A (white) young woman gave her two friends a basic Arabic lesson: “Salaam alaikum. It means ‘peace be with you.’” In front of me, two shaggy-haired young men rolled joints of marijuana.
This is the second straight day of protests against the occupation and war in Gaza. The major driving force behind the protests in Belfast is the political left: Socialist Youth and workers’ unions. But all sorts of people turned out for the march and rally this afternoon. There were Muslims, Christians, and Jews. There were young men with mohawks and dreadlocks, middle-aged women wearing hats to ward off the cold, mothers and fathers with children. Some people were swept up in the march. When we started out, we took up about 2 city blocks. By the time we reached our destination, in front of City Hall, the procession had doubled in size. (It was a better turnout than the MLK Jr Day march I went to in Portland a couple years ago.) The man next to me at the rally was carrying a bag of groceries. The woman behind me had two dogs that barked occasionally as if to agree with the speakers.
The rally itself was as cross-community and cross-cultural as possible. The keynote speakers were leaders from the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican (Church of Ireland) churches, the Muslim community, a Jewish organization, the workers’ unions, and peace organizations. It was bitter cold outside, so most people sadly didn’t stay til the end of the hour-long outdoor rally. One theme repeated in nearly all the speeches: Belfast has seen war and division. As one speaker said, “We are not passive and ignorant bystanders.” Northern Ireland is on a road to peace. If it is possible here, it is possible in Israel-Palestine. There is hope. We have hope that the political process can be effective in bringing peace, as it was here. But we must remind world leaders that, as the Catholic priest said, “Great dreams can never be built upon the bodies of innocent people.” War will not solve anyone’s problems.
Martin Luther King, Jr, Day is coming up in a week or so. I’m going to miss it – and not just because it’s a day off. King’s words came to my mind while listening to the speakers today: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” And so we must seek peaceful means to end a violent conflict, to call for a just solution in Israel-Palestine, in Northern Ireland, and everywhere in the world.
The PC(USA)’s Presbyterian Peacemaking Program blog has several posts about the situation in Gaza and the church’s response. I encourage you to check it out at:http://presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking/.
And I leave you with one of my favourite verses from the Psalms: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls.” (Psalm 122:6-7a) Pray for the peace of all Israel-Palestine.
Obligatory disclaimer: Any views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PC(USA), PCI, or any other organization with which I might be affiliated. I am a highly opinionated person and speak for myself alone.
The beginning of the march.
On the way to City Hall. I was about a quarter of the way back in the crowd.
In front of City Hall.
On the way to City Hall. I was about a quarter of the way back in the crowd.
In front of City Hall.
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