Hunger Strike Activist Returns to Legislature Wielding List of Martyrs

I wrote before that governments don't fear ten thousand protesters showing up once and and walking home; they fear the one activist that keeps showing up ten thousand times.

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.

Emily discussing with someone I presume to be BC Federation of Labour Director Kassandra Cordero, a delegate at the BC NDP Convention last November. The party then adopted a motion supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, but since hasn’t taken any concrete steps in this direction. “Not good enough!” had then chanted the protesters in response.

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.

This professional photographer was sympathetic to our cause. He chatted with me on his way to the ‘real’ event, and stole a few pictures while he was at it.

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.

Speaking the names of the victims, some less than one year old. Emily is meanwhile busy writing them down.

They had to take turns. Even then it was futile.

These were all kids the Zionists would have us believe were born with an AK-47 in their hands.

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.

The list goes on and on. Don’t just trample their names.

Today the crowd broke a record in covering the precincts with chalk, spending dozens of sticks in total. And as usual got away with it. Not even a ticket.

Humanity as a whole is criminal, and History is bloody murder.

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.