Hunger Strike Activist Returns to Legislature Wielding List of Martyrs

Dozens of activists rallied around a fellow on a hunger strike at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria, to denounce government inaction on vague commitments to press for a ceasefire in Gaza.

This action follows a demonstration two days ago, when a more sizeable crowd attempted to disrupt the Speech for the Throne. While the speech ceremony proper unfolded without major incident, the protesters were able to prevent the ceremonial entrance via the main gate. The word is that clamours were also audible from the legislative chamber during the speech and also on the live stream, forcing delays and editing certain hiccups off the final recording.

Today the Eby government presented its budget to the legislative assembly, drawing once again considerable media attention. In order to divert some of it to the cause, this time Emily and her supporters tried a different tactic: naming martyrs killed in Gaza since October, if only a small sample. And not just enumerating them with a microphone, but writing down their names with chalk on the pavement of the Legislature precincts.

Of course listing every casualty is impractical. A modest attempt at Lockheed Martin’s office in Esquimalt last November could barely make a dent into a list of then merely a fifth of the current tally, which exceeds thirty thousand victims. I’ve also estimated that covering the northern side’s pavement with names leaves room for just about 3200 entries, roughly a tenth of the total.

While Emily has today relaxed her strict regimen over health concerns, she intends to return to the Legislature every day to reiterate her demands to the NDP government, beginning with divestment from Israeli interest but also including humanitarian support for Palestinian refugees.