Forget shopping and pubs this Friday evening; the real scene was on the streets of downtown Victoria tonight, protesting against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Try it out once!
170 Palestine supporters rallied at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, for the thirty-sixth weekend in a row, clamouring for a ceasefire in Gaza eight months into a livestreamed campaign of genocide by the Israeli military.
The usual Saturday demonstration actually took place on Friday evening due to the normal rendezvous colliding with the Day of Arafah, an important Muslim holiday. Turnout was lower as a result; I even met a regular on my way there who didn’t know of the change this week.
The event follows a small rally at staunch Zionist MP Randall Garrison, unfolding in a predictably futile fashion. One of the speakers at that action was still reeling from it when he spoke again tonight, his main grievance being that Garrison still sits as vice-president on the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, despite widespread calls for him to resign in this capacity, in contrast with his early statement condemning the violence against Palestinians.
A Peoples’ Park representative also took the mic today, making a call for all supporters, not just students, to spend time at the UVic encampment. He also announced a vigil and posthumous convocation for Palestinian students martyred in Gaza, after the Israel Defence Forces reduced every university in the region to rubble.
Last, but not least, I am disappointed to announce that, the inevitable presence of a couple Zionists notwithstanding, I have not witnessed a single hostile incident tonight. Everyone behaved so well all around that I have no sport to rant about. This may be small consolation for our fellow protester Bruce Dean, who last I heard was still at the hospital following an assault by a hostile bystander last Saturday, and who like me loves to chase after the action; well wishes!
By the way, weekend rallies resume on Saturday at 2PM as usual starting next week. I am not planning to attend, however, as it conflicts with a rally I’m organising; watch for announcements on 1 Million Voices For Inclusion’s Instagram!
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Although the event was a relative success, its outcome leaves me most apprehensive. Regretfully, we had to end it early.
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