Support for Palestine at ‘Pride London’

Saturday’s Pride London celebration attracted an estimated 25,000 people who marched from Portman Square to a rally in Trafalgar Square.

It’s been forty-one years since the first march in London when a persecuted, harassed and discriminated people demanded equal rights, recognition and dignity. For many, the struggle still continues.

So it comes as no surprise that a considerable number of people who were marching on Saturday carried Palestinian flags and banners displaying solidarity with another oppressed group who face hostility and discrimination every single day.

Here’s a three-minute video that captured the spirit of the day:

Thanks to Tommy Tucker/No Pinkwashing UK

The photo below, tweeted to his over 900,000 followers by fashion guru Gok Wan, one of the speakers at the rally that also featured performances by Boy George and singer Deborah Cox, clearly showed numerous Palestinian flags along with a Palestine Solidarity Campaign banner.

From one oppressed people to another: Solidarity! Rally in Trafalgar Square with celebrity Gok Wan on the right.

Members of UNISON, one of the UK’s largest public sector trade unions, wore shirts and carried placards proclaiming ‘No Pride in Israel Apartheid’. Some also wore keffiyehs and carried signs that read ‘Queers for Justice for Palestinians.’

Those at the rally were keen to raise awareness of Israel’s attempts to use LGBT issues in a propaganda campaign that many refer to as ‘pinkwashing’. Pinkwashing is an attempt by Israel to portray itself as a progressive, gay-friendly country and exploit the fight against homophobia to overshadow or “pinkwash” their illegal occupation in the West Bank, state-sponsored apartheid, blockade of Gaza and construction of the apartheid wall.

An example of pinkwashing is this photo (below), released in June 2012 by the IOF Spokesperson’s Unit. But as is the case with Israel, things aren’t always what they seem to be.

Click on the image for a +972 article about this photo written from an Israeli perspective. The comments are also worth reading.

A bit closer to the truth. Cartoon by Tel Aviv-based artist Mysh Rozanov (+972)

For those interested in expanding their knowledge about pinkwashing, visit Pinkwatching Israel, an online resource and information hub for BDS activists that exposes Israeli pinkwashing. Another site, No Pinkwashing – LGBTQ people against Israeli apartheid is run by a group based in the UK.

Here are some additional scenes from Saturday’s march and rally:

At the assembly point

The marchers enjoyed support from just about everyone

People expressing solidarity flanked the stage with Palestinian flags and placards

Many UNISON members wore these distinctive shirts

During the Pride London procession, another group of campaigners were outside the De Beers diamond showroom to protest De Beers Israeli blood diamond exhibition at the Tower of London.

Thanks to all the photographers.