October 11th is our thirty-second national demonstration for Palestine, and marks the second anniversary of the start of the genocide in Gaza.
Thirty two huge demonstrations in one hundred and four weeks, tells you that Palestine is the defining issue of our time.
The need for us to build this demonstration is as great as it has ever been.
The situation in Gaza is getting worse:
i) Israeli forces continue to clear Gaza City, telling residents to move out or they will be considered enemy combatants;
ii) the Trump peace plan does nothing for the Palestinians, it does not mention the West Bank and hands Gaza over to a colonial authority led by Tony Blair;
iii) Israeli forces have hijacked the aid flotilla and taken those on board into custody.
Our mobilisations have had an impact:
i) the government would not be recognising a Palestinian state were it not for our mass campaigning;
ii) similarly, Labour Conference would not have passed policy calling for sanctions and an end to arm sales;
iii) mass strikes are beginning to happen in other countries.
And crucially, the Palestinians see and hear us on the streets, and are uplifted by the fact that we will not be silenced and will not turn our backs on them.
In the coming days and weeks we can expect our peaceful movement for Palestine to come under more pressure and greater scrutiny.
We will face attacks and smears, by people who want to weaponise the dreadful Manchester synagogue attack against us.
It is vitally important that we hold our nerve and do not get distracted.
Our movement is multi-ethnic, peaceful and opposed to all forms of racism, including antisemitism.
Our best response is to take to the streets in greater numbers than ever before.
For all of the reasons above it is crucial that the demonstration on October 11th is the biggest yet.
Make sure you are there and bring everyone you can.