Hundreds of protesters gathered in York today (Saturday, November 4) calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The protesters waved flags and held placards as they marched from St Helen’s Square through the city’s streets at 2pm.
They chanted “free Palestine” and calls for a ceasefire.
Among those at the protest was York central MP Rachael Maskell who gave a speech to the crowd in St Helen’s Square.
The Labour MP said: “Our world is breaking when we see the massacre which is happening in Gaza right now.”
Ms Maskell called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to support calls for a ceasefire.
“We have all got a responsibility here to stand up and call for a ceasefire,” she said.
“Labour has got that responsibility, the Conservatives have got that responsibility, all have got that responsibility.
“I thank York and I thank you for being here and taking that responsibility and speaking up as I did in parliament and calling for a ceasefire.”
During her speech, Ms Maskell urged those in power to “humble themselves before our nation” and “listen to cries that this war must stop”.
She said hundreds of people have written to her with “crying pleas” asking her to “step up and speak up”.
“I couldn’t be anywhere but here with you today,” she told the crowd.
Carima Salameh, who described herself as a York born Palestinian, told the crowd that “nobody is safe from this genocide”.
“My mother’s family in Gaza lost five sons and a mother and a father in the first week of fighting with the air strikes,” she said.
Ms Salameh said more of her loved ones have been killed since 2015.
People travelled from far and wide to attend the protest.
Holly Gooding and Heather Linnett travelled to York from Middlesbrough and Redcar for the demonstration.
Ms Linnett told The Press she attended to urge the Government to do more to call for a ceasefire.
“You have to show that the public aren’t complacent,” she said. “We don’t agree with this.”
Lolly Hernandez and Emily Hughes came to the protest from East Yorkshire.
“The way civilians (in Gaza) are being treated is appalling,” Ms Hernandez told The Press.
Ms Hughes added that they attend the protest to “show support for a ceasefire and support for peaceful and meaningful negotiations”.
Police officers were at the peaceful protest.
After the demonstration a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "The policing operation to facilitate a peaceful and lawful protest in the centre of York today was carried out without any major incident.
"There was an isolated incident of inappropriate chanting by a small minority. However, this was dealt with swiftly by officers.
"Over 400 people were in attendance and the vast majority of protestors passed through the city centre peacefully.
"Anyone has the right to peaceful and lawful protest and the police service’s role is to ensure it passes peacefully and lawfully, while balancing it with the rights of others, seeking to minimise disruption and keep the public safe."
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