Gaza vigil held in Cork today: report

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Sunday December 27, 2009 21:11

by Fintan Lane - IPSC media officer

087 1258325

A vigil was held on Patrick's Bridge in Cork city this afternoon to mark the beginning of the Gaza massacre last year. More than 1,400 people - including over 300 children - were killed by Israeli forces during the onslaught.

Today's vigil was intended as a mark of respect for the dead but also as an act of solidarity with the living.

Cllr Mick Barry (left), Cllr Ted Tynan (centre) and Cllr Chris O'Leary (right) on Cork's vigil for Gaza today

Those present were mindful that the Gaza humanitarian aid convoy - which includes an ambulance and helpers from Cork itself - remains stranded on the Jordan/Egyptian border and is being refused permission to continue to the Rafah crossing into Gaza. The aid convoy was meant to enter Gaza today.

Similarly, the Egyptian authorities have acted to frustrate the 'Gaza Freedom March' that was planned for 31 December. In facet, international delegates travelling to the march, including members of the IPSC, have been stopped from entering Gaza. Several delegates were briefly detained by police today.

The Cork vigil was well attended and among those present were three members of Cork City Council: Cllr Mick Barry (Socialist Party), Cllr Chris O'Leary (independent) and Cllr Ted Tynan (Workers' Party).

Supporting the locals in Gaza

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Comments (5 of 5)

The call for justice from Patrick's Bridge.

by Gene Fitzpatrick

Sat Jan 09, 2010 18:32

I just today saw the item and pictures related to Cork's late December endeavor at expressing solidarity with the Gethsemane called Gaza. As one deeply into the Palestinian Rights movement I greatly appreciate what you did on that cold December day on Patrick's Bridge. It touched me more so since my maternal roots are in Cork, my grandmother having left Whitegate for America on a clipper ship in the 1880's. Each Saturday at noon here in Arvada, Colorado, fair weather or foul, I hold a protest vigil at an extremely busy intersection in behalf of suffering Gaza. So I feel in solidarity with the Corkonians on Patrick's Bridge and urge them to mount frequent, perhaps weekly, actions for this urgently desperate cause.

Gene Fitzpatrick

comment

by Mairead Spillane

Mon Dec 28, 2009 21:42

Thanks for organising the vigil Fintan, and thanks to eveyone who came. It means a lot to Kate and Dave when they get the chance to check the site. Irish support and interest has been impressive and keeps morale high for the volunteers and those supooerting them all along the way, Mairead Spillane (Kates mother)

A final few photos

by Fintan Lane - IPSC

Sun Dec 27, 2009 21:46

A final few photos of Cork vigil...

Well done!

by Freda H - IPSC

Sun Dec 27, 2009 21:41

Well done Fintan and all in Cork! It's great to see so many people out at this time of year. Hopefully we can pull a good crowd together to do likewise in Dublin on Dec 31st at 2.30pm on the Ha'penny Bridge.
Keep up the good work!!

More photos

Sun Dec 27, 2009 21:19

More photos of today's Cork vigil for Gaza.