How YOU can help on Wednesday 21st February
by
Julie Wassmer, Gerry Atkinson & Andrew Hastings
A demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza took place in Whitstable on Saturday 17th February outside the public library.
Organised by South East Kent Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), at least a hundred people came to support the hour-long event which was timed to coincide with London protests and to raise awareness of an important parliamentary vote taking place on Wednesday 21st February on whether the UK should call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This is a crucial moment in parliament and we can all make a difference in lobbying MPs ahead of the vote.
Whitstable resident, Diane Langford, a member of the PSC National Executive and the main speaker on the day, said: “Although our rally had been staged with less that 24 hours’ notice, it was heartening that so many Whitstable people turned up to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people by joining us in chanting “Cease Fire Now!” It’s an outrage to so many people that when tens of thousands of lives continue to be lost in Gaza and 1.9 million people have already been displaced, local politicians, including councillors, are continuing to act aloof as though genocide is not their business, while hosting arms factories in Kent, including Amphenol right here in Whitstable.”
During Saturday’s event, many concerned passers-by asked for further information and were informed that everyone can take simple action straight away by writing to their MP demanding that they vote in parliament for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on 21st February or we can go to London that day and join the largest ever PSC Lobby of Parliament where, between 11.30 am and 4 pm, stewards will be guiding members of the public to the central lobby where they can submit a green card and ask see their own MP in person before joining a massive rally outside parliament.
Diane continued: “Shame on Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer for leaving it to the SNP to bring the issue to this vote. We consider them to be complicit in genocide and will be answerable to history for continuing Britain’s betrayal of the Palestinian people from the Balfour Declaration until now. We will continue with our protests and demands: Stop Arming Israel! Boycott Israeli goods and services! Kick arms factories out of Kent!”
You can use the following link to email your MP about this important vote. It takes only seconds and could turn the tide of this conflict:
https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/voteforceasefirenow/search
More events and demonstrations about Gaza are to be held in Whitstable soon. For more information go to:
palestinecampaignsekent@gmail.com
Instagram: palestinecampaignsekent
You can also join the Palestine Solidarity Campaign by going to this website: palestinecampaign.org
Gallery by Gerry Atkinson:
(Click on images to enlarge)
Gallery by Andrew Hastings:
(Click on images to enlarge)
ABOUT:
Julie Wassmer is a Whitstable-based author, TV writer and environmental campaigner.
She has successfully fought a number of environmental issues, including fracking in Kent and tree clearances by Network Rail. Her Whitstable Pearl crime novels are now a major TV series, starring Kerry Godliman.
Whitstable Views: How You Can Help
- Make sure you share and like our articles on Facebook and Twitter, and whatever other social-media platforms you use.
- Follow the site to get regular updates about new articles when they appear. Press the “Follow” icon in the bottom right hand corner of your screen and that will take you to the option to sign up. (It disappears as you move the text down, then reappears as you move it back up again!)
- Leave comments on the site rather than on Facebook. Let’s get a debate going. All of our contributors are willing to engage with you if you leave a comment.
- To all writers out there, we would LOVE you to make a contribution. Read our submissions page for details on how to go about that: https://whitstableviews.com/submissions/
- Finally you can donate. As little as £1 would help. Details on the donations page here: https://whitstableviews.com/donate/
Whitstable Views 