Huge turnout for annual Bloody Sunday March for Justice

There was a huge turnout for the annual Bloody Sunday march this afternoon.
The ‘March for Justice’ followed the same route of the original Bloody Sunday demonstration, from Creggan shops through the Brandywell and Bogside before ending at Free Derry Corner. Today’s parade was led by people carrying white crosses in memory of those killed on Bloody Sunday.
The march was a sea of Palestinian flags and banners in support of the Palestinian people.
One of the speakers at the march was Farrah Kouteinneh, a Palestinian writer, journalist and founder of Key48.
Key48 is an online account which started out as a student movement to counteract censorship in universities.
Ms Kouteinneh said it was an 'incredible honour' to stand with the people of Derry on Bloody Sunday.
She hit at Sinn Fein's stance on the March for Justice and the US.
“I have only ever seen intersectional, inclusive, interconnected solidarity on this scale here at Bloody Sunday marches, where we have the victims of Bloody Sunday families standing hand in hand with those from Hillsborough, with those from Palestine, with those from anti-racist groups to feminist groups , to Trade Unions from working class communities.
“This is the momentum, the unity, the people power that the ruling class, that now includes Sinn Fein fear. They fear and that's exactly why marches like this must continue and why we must mobilize on this scale further.”
Ms Kouteinneh said she supported Palestinian resistance “by any and all means”.
She added: “I for one do not condemn October 7. Palestinians broke out from a brutal siege and actively took their land back and liberated themselves and history will see it as exactly that.”

IN PICTURES: Derry holds annual Bloody Sunday March for Justice

Veteran civil rights campaigner Eamonn McCann praised Irish president Michael D Higgins' stance for highlighting Gaza during a Holocaust memorial event.
“He (Michael D Higgins) stood up for the Palestinian people despite the slander and libels around him and people including politicians and newspapers in Dublin. Shame on them, shame on them.”
He added: “We will be the losers if Palestine loses.”
Mr McCann said the people of Derry should be 'proud' of the campaign to remove US defense contractor Raytheon from the city.

See Derry Now's Facebook page for full coverage of today's Bloody Sunday memorial and March for Justice.