Glasgow Silent March for Palestine as World Approaches Three Years of Genocide

By Voice Reporter

Comrades from the Scottish Socialist Party attended the National Silent March for Palestine on Saturday. The march – organised by the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee – was solemn and impactful, bringing with it a grave silence as it moved through the city.

Glasgow has been the site of several massive national demonstrations for Palestine throughout the genocide, and calls for mobilisation continue to attract a significant crowd.

The SSP stall was welcomed at the beginning and end points of the march; comrades followed organiser instructions and carried only Palestine flags on the march. This continues the Party’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, which has been unwavering since its inception and has been particularly front and centre over the past three years.

One marcher spoke to the Voice about the effectiveness of a silent march: “At first, I thought that a silent march wouldn’t be a great idea. A march where people are screaming and singing throughout the city is a very striking image. Anger is a strong emotion that conveys the point we are trying to make – you can see and hear that anger immediately.

“But after we started marching, I realised just how powerful a silent march could be. Everyone was solemn, no one was talking. The entire atmosphere of the city shifted. The march did show our anger, but importantly it also displayed our grief. Grief not just for the current  genocide, but for all the suffering and pain that the Palestinian people have suffered under occupation.

“There was a feeling of disappointment in the fact that humanity never seems to learn from its mistakes.”

Demonstrators moved in silence from Barrowland Park to Buchanan Steps, where a series of speakers addressed the crowd.

A far smaller demonstration of far right activists also gathered in Glasgow (George Square) on the same day.

The  recently updated Voice Extra page is designed to allow readers to keep up to date with significant events and stories between the publication of our fortnightly paper.

You are reading this story on the Extra page: we welcome news or story tips from readers for possible inclusion on this page.

Have a story? Contact us on VoiceExtra@Outlook.com