The Pro-Palestinian protesters organized a powerful protest in Birmingham today (May 25) to coincide with the Birmingham pride parade in the midst of controversy over the main sponsor of the event.
The West Midlands Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (WMPSC) maintained a ‘death’ outside the La Toro shopping center while the pride parade passed, to draw attention to the recent war against Palestine.
The activists have urged community members to boycott the two -day party event until the organizers cut the ties with the main sponsor HSBC, who, according to them, is financing the sales of weapons to Israel.
Duration The trick, the participants lay on the ground, some covered with false blood and other dresses with medical thickets, symbolizing victims of the conflict. They hero sign the reading “ends the genocide, Free Palestine.”
The silent demonstration aimed to evoke images of bodies in the hospitals of Gaza, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. This is the last trick of awareness of the pro-palestinian groups in Birmingham, after the dye of the city last week Fountains Red by Palestine Action.
“We urge all those who are committed to raising awareness of what is happening in Palestine to support us for the given in the event,” said WMPSC president Naeem Malik.
“Since October 7, Israel has continued to deploy military assaults in Palestinian villages with devastating consequences, we are now at a point where hospitals are being bombed to such an extent that they are being the mass tombs.
“We demand justice for the victims of the massacres of Al-Shifa and Nasser. Violence must end.”
Birmingham pride boycott
Death was one of several weekend activities held to challenge what activists describe as “pink washing” or Birmingham’s pride.
Activists believe that pride is a protest should not be monopolized by corporations such as HSBC that supposedly support war crimes. According to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the bank firm invests billions in companies Armando to Israel, which tells human rights abuses.
“Rose washing is a propaganda strategy used to hide the violation of human rights through the facade of support for LGBTQ+rights, used by Apartheid Israel and corporations like HSBC,” explained a PSC spokesman.
“HSBC invests more than £ 800 million and provides syndicated loans worth up to 19 billion for companies assembling Israel.”
After the most recent wave of Israeli attacks against the people of Gaza in October, Birmingham queer Alternative Music Collective Outcast Stomp has been pressing for a boycott of the city’s pride event.
“Until Birmingham Pride Festival leaves their sponsorships of complicit companies of the occupation and genocide of Palestine, we call this: the queer people of Birmingham and beyond, do not attend Birmingham’s pride events,” said a group statement.
“The artists and interpreters, reject the sacrifices of Birmingham Pride and leave their events. Companies, positions, organizers, abandon the events of Birmingham Pride.
“These companies cannot use the vibrant community event to wash the blood of the hands.”
The organization urges Birmingham’s organizers to eliminate HSBC as an event partner, along with the Sponsors Glamazon, McDonalds and Mondelez; All of which have described as “companies that produce genocides.”
Several other groups, including Queers for Palestine and Birmingham Radical Unity Hive, have joined the calls to the annual Mardi Gras West Midlands style event.
On its website, HSBC states: “We firmly believe that who you love or how you identify should never be a barrier to the opportunity.
“That’s why we are proud to support Birmingham’s pride, one of the UKS [sic] Festivals of pride larger, and support our colleagues and clients to challenge prejudices through the marches of pride throughout the United Kingdom. “
