Local rally supports Palestinians in Gaza
By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on November 16, 2023.
A pro-Palestinian rally at City Hall on Tuesday night was staged over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.A poster for the rally stated “Stop the Genocide” and called for an end of funding for Israeli weapons.
The protest was associated with the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group.
Media efforts to interview organizers including University of Lethbridge student Jessie Tollestrup were denied with organizers saying they weren’t interested in conversations with media.
Rally supporter Naji Saleah, who originates from the region, shared his understanding about the ongoing conflict.
“The war did not start on October 7, it’s been going on a daily basis. Sector Gaza is the biggest concentration camp, there is nothing that can get into sector Gaza, and nothing gets out of sector Gaza without permission from the Zionist state. There is a gate to sector Gaza that we have to get through. It’s been for 17 years now,” said Saleah.
During the rally a couple of speakers engaged with the crowd chanting to “free Palestinians.” Saleah said the government of Israel has taken away the rights of Gaza residents to defend themselves.
“The government of Israel strikes Gaza almost every week, on a weekly basis for no reasons. They claim there is a resistance or terrorists or whatever they claim that they are not happy with. And they give them themselves the right to self-defence,” but they don’t allow people he calls oppressed to defend themselves, Saleah said.
Several Lethbridge police officers watched the rally to ensure peace was maintained.
“We are designed as crowd management specialists. And we are because there’s a lot of protests, rallies demonstrations these days. And so we’re here to ensure that it’s peaceful and that everyone can have the right to peaceful assemblies. That’s our purpose,” said LPS Staff Sergeant Mike Williamson.
Saleah talked about the destruction and deaths that are ongoing in Gaza.
“Unfortunately, people don’t see anything on the news unless there’s something big happens like this. Now since October 7, up until now, more than 11,500 people were killed. . . two thirds of Gaza was destroyed to the ground. This is a genocide we are talking about,” said Saleah.
Chelsea Carson, another supporter, shared her frustration that Canada has not asked for a ceasefire.
“I just feel like I can’t sit back and watch our leaders do nothing when there’s a literal genocide happening in front of our eyes. I think the least that our leaders can do is call for a ceasefire. And the fact that they’re not and the fact that they’re still supporting the genocidal Israeli government is not OK with me,” said Carson.
“At the very least, I hope the Palestinians in Lethbridge know that we have their backs and that we are watching and we are seeing what’s happening and that we are demanding.”
Carson sees parallels between the situation in Gaza and colonialism in Canada.
“I think that especially as Canadians the more I learn about this genocide, the more I can see how it lines up with our own history of colonialism. And you know, what we now call Canada. I think it’s important to not only reflect on what’s happening now, but also our own history,” said Carson.
Supporter Grace Wirzba said coming out to the rally was important for her.
“I think it’s also important to come together as a community and see that other people are feeling the same way that you are, especially for our family and brothers and sisters that are from Gaza and from Palestine as well as from Israel,” said Wirzba. 2
-1
