Pat Taub
In our new upside-down world, Britain wins the dubious honor for taking terrorism to an absurd level, arresting hundreds of their elderly for terrorism simply for holding signs in support of Palestine Action, newly proscribed as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act of 2000.
Succumbing to Zionist pressure, Palestine Action was labeled a terrorist organization for spray painting two military planes earmarked for Israel in support of the on-going genocide in Gaza.
The arrests on August 9th made global headlines for the number of elders protesting. Of the 500 plus arrested in Parliament Square the majority were over 60 with many in their 70’s and 80’s. The arrested showed a quiet determinism in their frail bodies, frequently needing assistance to make their way to the police vans.
What prompted so many brave pensioners to show up? One woman echoed a popular response saying, “I’m retired so I’m not scared of losing my job over being arrested.”
Another older woman told the press covering the story: “At some point you have to draw a line. For me, today that line was crossed and I needed to stand up,”
Some freely admitted to being frightened at the prospect of arrest, like a man with a flowing white beard, “I’ve never been arrested before, and I’m scared.” Others, resembling friends at a picnic, sat on blankets, munching snacks while borrowing crayons to draw their protest signs.
A particularly poignant visual was the Suffragette statue on the grounds where the action took place. Many protesters, men as well as women, referenced the Suffragettes as a source of inspiration for them.
Prior to marching a group of pensioners broke out singing, “We shall overcome,” causing me to wonder how many times in their long lives have they sung this song? I took it as a sign that hope springs eternal among seasoned activists.
Onlookers were in disbelief. A tourist from New Zealand, her voice breaking, remarked, ‘I want to cry at what they’re doing to these people. They are peaceful people, many elderly.” Another from Spain remarked, “We are shocked. People are protesting peacefully. What’s illegal about that?”
Among the organizations participating in the protest were Jewish Voice for Peace. One of these protesters, Zoe, wore a large patch with the words, ‘Jews Against Genocide,” telling a reporter, “I’m holding a piece of paper for goodness sakes, that’s not a terrorist act. A terrorist act is intentionally starving 2 million people.”
Post march, some, like 81-year-old Deborah Hinton confessed to being frightened at the prospect of being arrested. When an officer told her if she put down her sign in support of Gaza, she could leave without further action, she admitted, “It was such a temptation because it was so terrifying . . . but I knew I had to do this, and it was my duty.”
Deborah Hinton at her home in Gorran Haven, Cornwall
Deborah’s fears are not unwarranted. Arrest under the new terrorism law carries the prospect of a prison term up to 14 years for anyone who belongs to Palestine Action or supports them. Even wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt can bring arrest.
Richard Whitmore-Jones, 74, explained why he joined the protest: “This is about the children the age of my grandchildren having their limbs and their lives taken away.”
Richard Whitmore-Jones
Chris Romberg, 75, a former colonel and descendant of Holocaust survivors told an interviewer: “I think the usefulness of having Jewish people who are Holocaust survivor descendants speak up is to put the lie to the claim that all the horrors being perpetuated in Gaza and the West Bank are justified by the Holocaust and are being done in the name of Jewish people when they are not.”
Chris Romberg
Britain’s brave pensioners have ignited the UK peace movement in support of Gaza. UK and US citizens live under heartless governments, but our governments do not represent the vast majority who want an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza. Let’s keep growing our peace groups, while organizing for viable peace parties, in the spirit of the saying, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
(Banksy)
