Complete drawings from London protest. #FreeGaza

There is something different this time, people say – the energy behind the campaign for a free Palestine and the ending of the siege of Gaza- if we all believe in humanity and it’s ability to come together in these moments.  Respect, thoughts and well wishes go to those in Gaza,  to those tired and aching souls desperately craving a night of peace. To those mothers, sons, daughters, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles who struggle for justice. To the people of the campaign, their tireless volunteers and supporters and the spirit they carry within them to realise justice.

“To draw is to outline an idea. The drawing is the clarification of thought”… Matisse

The idea is clear. We want human and civil rights to be realised for all.

#FreePalestine: Coming to another Protest, London

 Going pass the Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park behind me. 

Entering towards Parliament Square – Trafalgar Square. As the speeches are made, people gather, sit, banter. With Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament looming in the background. 

Returning home, preparing to go away to Berlin tomorrow morning and having been at an opera that was about the Promised Land for the Jews (Mose and Aron) I felt somewhat disconnected emotionally today.  The music by Shoenberg was quite something, it excited me, yet the narrative sickened me until right to the end. When it hit home how apt it was after all – Moses to say how unfitting words are – that no words are really able to explain the idea of God – SO my question will be why have we? and why are we following words that are distorted, incorrect and creating chaos all around us. I know from bitter personal experience how important communication is. |

The careful use of language over the years has created this monster called Israel, and we have to wrestle against its bullshit, its PR and stand on the side of justice & humanity, yet, my frustration goes out to all out there who are continually feeding us crap and bullshit and who are not willing to put human and civil liberties first.  

Throughout the protest today I thought about how disengaged we still are, as hundreds of people die in Gaza (over 1000 dead now) we chant and rejoice and go home feeling better for protesting – the little that we can do, the little that our privileged lives allows us to – to ‘make’ time around our busy schedules.

Going pass the Albert Hall, london. Protest for Gaza

Poster: Massacre in Gaza – Protest in London.

I have been thinking what I can do this afternoon..

Inspired by last nights chants and this morning, reflecting on what is needed and important. Mass demonstration and protest is one important tool that we can utilise. I don’t have the loudest voice, but I am happy for people to take this image, copy it, download it, use it as they like and share it, print it, put their logos on it.

Click here for more information on Saturdays protest

 

Today at the Protest at Israel Embassy, London #GazaUnderAttack

A smaller crowd, yet just as boisterous. I switched off and zoned in on the drawing, observing at the souls around me, chanting, screaming, protesting. I wonder what good will come of all this. There is an amazing energy with the crowd, I only pray and hope this amazing energy transfers quickly to no more deaths in Gaza and an end to the siege.

The beginning, middle and end of a protest, London.

I am spent emotionally after a roller coaster few days. Although there are few more drawings from the protest – these 3 signify something that perhaps worries me a lot personally. That, we go home to a warm bed, a hot shower and good food. Others are not so lucky. How to reconcile with that? How to switch off a part of the brain that tells you how pathetic you are, how useless and futile all this energy and effort maybe. Keep the optimism alive, and hope burning.

The city really is the site of all political activity and will, it is the place where people can gather and demand their rights, whether those that hold the powers listen, is another issue altogether. It is something to witness the streets turn into a haven for protest – it was a peaceful demonstration and one that wants to address injustice against the people of Gaza and Palestine. This is my two cents worth of energy from the protest – drawing from the protest as it was happening. 

The crowd gathers at Whitehall and begins the march towards Israeli embassy. Nelson’s Column and trafalgar loom

Walking pass The Ritz, and middle of the journey, the sun begins to shine and people continue on. 

Outside the Israeli Embassy, on High St Kensington, listening to the numerous speakers and hoping that perhaps, there is hope and the world will listen.

Protest for Gaza, London

The crowd going pass The Ritz and onto the Israel Embassy. Now.
#FreePalestine