Everything changed for me last October. I never stop thinking about Palestine. I see the politicians and the world leaders very differently.
They talk and talk but nothing changes in Palestine as the genocide carries on. The whole system is so corrupt.
The people in charge don’t care about working class people. I feel quite hopeless, but then I see ordinary people coming together. The resistance of ordinary people is so important because we do have power.
Isha, young worker
The last year has taught me a lot. I can’t believe what is happening in Palestine. I never thought we’d be going on demos every week and flying the Palestinian flag everywhere.
I have lost some friends over the issue of Palestine, but I have gained a whole new community.
I have lost my faith in all the political leaders. It feels like the start of a revolution. I see the liberation of Palestine as the liberation of the whole world.
I left my job in executive recruitment. My aim was to increase diversity in boardrooms, but I realised that it was bullshit.
They did not want black or brown people who might stand up to them—I am a full-time activist for Palestine now.
Shabnam, admin worker
Seeing how complicit the British government is in funding and arming Israel is what drives me to continue marching, boycotting, and campaigning. There are so many issues here in Britain too. Homelessness, knife crime, mental health services, people waiting for cancer treatment.
There is no help for the working class. And it’s too late for a ceasefire now. We need an arms embargo and sanctions. We need Israel to be treated like Russia. When they invaded Ukraine, there were sanctions overnight.
The last year has changed me politically, spiritually, physically, socially. Even my clothes have changed. I wear my keffiyeh everywhere. I’m having my first weekend off from campaigning for a year.
I am going with an old friend to a rave for refugees in Hull, because after the race riots we have to challenge the far right. I will be doing a speech for Palestine.
Nabeela, lecturer, Bradford
I visited Palestine back before Covid. I heard these stories about how pregnant women were held at Israeli check points.
One went into labour but they wouldn’t let her through. She and her baby died there.
And this was before the genocide. I remember fund-raising for a minibus for disabled children. And now I wonder, where are those children now?
I never wrote poetry before, but the frustration and horror I felt watching the genocide made me express myself that way. I have read my poems out to thousands of people on rallies and demos.
We will never stop fighting for Palestine. Never.
Syra, PhD student, Leeds
We have to speak out about atrocities and genocide. The Palestinians do have a voice, but it is not being heard, its being crushed by a racist regime, with the complicity of governments around the world.
We have to advocate and speak out as much as we can. Watching the genocide and all the suffering takes a toll on your mental health.
You have to practise self-care, and that comes from solidarity with other people who are trying to achieve the same things. Malcolm X talked about how when you’re upset you cry, but when you are angry you channel that anger into action.
I believe in ‘By any means necessary’—we need to be loud, and active, and take direct action and mass action.
