Hundreds march for the Mothers of Gaza in Toome on Mother's Day weekend

Hundreds of people took part in a ‘Walk for the Mothers of Gaza’ on the shores of Lough Neagh on Friday.

Organised by the Mid Ulster Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, protesters marched from Toome village along the River Bann to Lough Neagh. 

Member and Toome local Brendan Kelly at the walk stated: "The peace and tranquillity of the canal and lough couldn't be a more stark contrast to the horror of bombs currently raining down in Gaza. While the mothers of Palestine will be spending their weekend grieving, we're marching in solidarity and support for them and against our government’s complicity."

Participants marched for an immediate end to the genocide, as well as for an end to US military and weapons being ferried through Shannon and Aldergrove. The march heard demands for transparency on Invest NI and called on Minister Caoimhe Archibald to come clean on whether public funds are supporting companies who work on parts for warplanes being sent to commit atrocities in Gaza. 

Speakers on the sunny evening included Orlaith Mhic Sheanlaoich from Mothers Against Genocide, Marlene Bovill Ní Bhrolcháin and Poilin Quinn from the Mid Ulster IPSC, and poet Maura who recited two heartbreaking poems for the mothers and children of Palestine. Speakers discussed the importance of standing up for the Mothers of Gaza ahead of Mother's Day and also the significance of Palestinian Land Day on Sunday, commemorating when peaceful protestors were murdered in Palestine in 1976.

Aterwards, spokesperson Pádraig MacNiocaill stated: "The importance of our protest in Toome and the need for further mobilisation across the country was highlighted by the atrocious treatment of anti-genocide protestors in Dublin on Monday morning. 

“The Mid Ulster Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign condemns the abhorrent treatment of peaceful Mothers Against Genocide activists by an Garda Síochana. In an era of rampant gender-based violence, the use of invasive strip searches and cavity searches is particularly alarming and disgraceful. 

“While our government remains complicit in genocide, Palestine activists north and south have received disproportionate force from police. We stand with these courageous activists protesting our complicit governments, who continue to allow warplanes through our airspace, block bills, and fund companies complicit in genocide. 

“These activists are on the right side of history."