Pro-Palestinian groups outside of Sheffield Town Hall call the government and council’s actions “cowardly”
Pro-Palestinian Activists Rally outside of Sheffield Town Hall
By Olivia Idle
November 29, 2024

Pro-Palestinian groups that have rallied outside of Sheffield’s Town Hall on the UN Day of Solidarity have described the actions of Sheffield Council and the government as “cowardly”.

Julie Pearn, the chair of the Sheffield Labour Friends of Palestine group who urged Sheffield City Council to fly the Palestinian flag today, has expressed her disappointment with the leaders of the council.

She said: “The city council has really been very reluctant, cowardly and obstructive. We have many friends amongst the councillors, but the leadership of the council has been very disappointing.”

Many activists at the rally were disheartened by Keir Starmer and the Labour government’s actions.

Alexi Dimond, Gleadless Valley’s Green Party Councillor, believes that what has happened in South Yorkshire today sends a message to the government.

He said: “I think this sends a clear message to Keir Starmer that we will stand with the Palestinian people. We have had enough of the British government’s not just complicity but actual participation in the genocide.”

Members of the activist group Sheffield Jews against Israeli Apartheid gathered in support of Palestine at the rally today.

Leni Solinger, a Jewish member of the group, argued the importance of demonstrating her support.

She said: “We don’t want people to think that there is one Jewish voice and one Jewish voice gets a lot of press coverage but our Jewish voice doesn’t.”