Hundreds take to the streets of Cork to march for peace in Gaza
Cork LGBTQI+ protesters showing support for the Cork-Palestine Solidarity Campaign at 23rd consecutive organised demonstration. Credit: Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Up to 700 people once braved the elements today as they marched through Cork city for the 23rd consecutive week in a rally and protest organised by the Cork-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC).
The demonstration saw many protesters in green clothes stained with fake blood, march down Grand Parade in disproval of the traditional St Patrick's Day shamrock sharing ceremony, to be held at The White House in Washington DC tomorrow.
To the protestors the ceremony, which will see Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presenting the historic shamrock bowl to US President Joe Biden, represents the approval of the Irish people of the military support President Biden has given Israel throughout the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Speaking at the protest, a nurse with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, said: “Palestinians don’t need your despair right now, they need your outrage and they need you to keep protesting.”
The CPSC co-chair, Martin Shiel commented on the rally, saying: “At a time when US-made bombs and bullets are being used by Israel to kill Palestinians, and with the US supplying billions of dollars' worth of financial aid to Israel, it's shameful that the Irish government refused to heed the call of so many people in Ireland not to meet with President Biden in the White House as a way of communicating Irish opposition to America’s Israel policy.
“The Taoiseach’s stated sympathy with the people of Gaza is not well borne out by his actions."
The protest also saw and heard attendees stop to chant outside the McDonald’s restaurant at Daunt Square. The company has been globally boycotted for its perceived support of the Israeli State, alongside other named US brands such as Starbuck’s and Amazon.
Speaking to The Echo about the aim of the Cork-based protest, People Before Profit - Solidarity TD Mick Barry said: “There are hundreds of thousands of people in this country that are opposed to him [Leo Varadkar] presenting gifts to the American president.”
“We want to keep the government under pressure on this issue. We want to say ‘not in our name'. Irish politicians should not be participating in those celebrations with him [Joe Biden],” he added.
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