In a fantastic show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, workers up and down the country organised another workplace day action for Palestine on Thursday (15 May).
Trade-union activists, workers and students staged events marking 77 years since the start of the Nakba, ranging from lunchtime protests and marches, to workplace meetings or simply wearing Palestine badges.
In Manchester, members of Unison and UCU branches at the Manchester Metropolitan University held a stall with posters and materials outside their building, while the Trafford Trades Council held a protest at Stretford Public Hall.
Unison Pennine Care Health branch had an information table at Birch Hill Hospital.
Also in Manchester, an installation featuring the work of twelve Palestinian comic book artists opened at the Levenshulme Old Library and runs until 14 July.
Over in Newcastle, Stop the War, Palestine Solidarity and trade unions for Palestine held a lunchtime rally in the town centre, with speakers including Meru Nisa Shah from Newcastle StW.
And down at York Hospital, the day of action included getting the message across to passing motorists about Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Warwick Stands With Palestine – a coalition of student and staff organisations at Warwick University – marked the day with teach outs, talks, poetry readings and other activities and student activists re-established their encampment on the Senate House lawn.
At the LSE in central London, students in the LSE liberated zone organised a panel discussion alongside the one year anniversary of the student encampment.
Also in London, at Kings College, students and staff came together to demand an end to the genocide and denounced the complicity of institutions like KCL. KCL students continue to encamp the Quad to push for divestment and support for Gaza.
Unite Community Branch Leeds, Wakefield & York joined with union activists to demand that West Yorkshire Pension Fund divest from companies linked to the arming of Israel.
Islington Unison were joined by Jeremy Corbyn MP during their lunchtime protest outside the town hall and UCU members at City and Islington College staged one of their biggest demonstrations ever o
utside their Camden Road site. New City College in Tower Hamlets also held a lunchtime demo.
In Bethnal Green, three primary schools – Bangla Bandu, Globe Town & Morpeth – were outside the local tube station with Palestine flags and leaflets.
This month’s day of action also saw activists organising local events in new locations. In Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, local activists organised a march & rally with speeches outside the sports centre.
Overall a amazing day of solidarity and support for Palestine. Thank you to everyone who took part.