British city pays tribute to flotilla victims
Reageer (0)15-8-2010
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Campaigners in Bristol promoted the boycott of Israeli goods on Saturday in memory of the nine passengers killed in Israel's raid of a Gaza-bound aid ship.
The protest was staged outside the main supermarket in the south-west England city, Waitrose. The store advertises a "Responsible Sourcing" policy, but failed to reply to a letter suggesting that stocking Israeli produce contradicts this policy, the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.
Demonstrators handed out leaflets informing shoppers of the boycott while nine campaigners acted out a scene from the 31 May incident. Dressed in red t-shirts printed with photographs of each of the victims, the protesters fell to the ground one-by-one, shot by an 8-foot mock Israeli soldier.
"We were all relieved the two Bristolians returned safely from the Mavi Marmara," a BPSC spokesman said, "But now more details are emerging of the brutality of the Israeli attack, our thoughts are with the nine that were killed. They were all very ordinary hard-working people. Their partners, children and families are left grieving. And the details of their wounds are especially harrowing, many were shot many times and several through the head."
The Bristol branch of the UK-wide organization is one of several Palestinian solidarity groups in the city. Substantial amounts of the humanitarian aid on the Viva Palestina convoy came from the city, whose local council was the first in the country to pass a motion condemning the flotilla raid and calling for a boycott.
The artist Banksy, who has adorned the separation wall with artwork creatively criticizing the occupation, hails from the city.
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