Huge support for Tullamore protest marking key Palestinian event
Tullamore for Gaza group formed to support and show solidarity with the people of Palestine
MEMBERS of Tullamore for Gaza, a local group formed in 2023, in support and solidarity with the people of Gaza, held a bridgil (bridge vigil) to mark the 77th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba in Tullamore, on Friday evening.
The protest attracted a lot of support from onlookers and motorists, including Independent councillor Sean O'Brien who joined protestors on the bridge.
Similar bridgils have been held by the group in Tullamore, with great support from locals and passing traffic.
May 15 is the anniversary of the 1948 Nakba or the 'catastrophe', when approximately 750,000 Palestinians were violently forced from their land by Israel. 77 years later, this violent expulsion is continuing, to an even more extreme degree.
Clare Ruffalo, organiser with Tullamore for Gaza, explained the importance of marking the anniversary of the Nakba this year,
"Israel has blocked all food, water and aid entering Gaza since March 2nd. They have now announced that they will occupy Gaza indefinitely. This is not a natural disaster, or an unintended consequence of war, this is a decision - to enact a live streamed genocide on an entire population. The Nakba continues, and we are calling on the Irish government to do more to put an end to it."
The bridgil takes place on Friday, May 16 at 6pm, on Bridge St Bridge in Tullamore, just beside the Bridge House. All welcome, family-friendly.