A number of high street stores have been the target of Pro-Palestinian protests in Liverpool, as they seek to raise awareness about the plight of people living alongside Israel.
The ‘Liverpool Rise for Palestine’ march, which takes place every Saturday on Bold Street, sees demonstrators going to various high street stores to call on them to boycott Israeli goods.
Holland and Barrett, Barclays bank, and Schuh are just some of the businesses the protesters are campaigning against. This weekend, Debenhams was the latest focus of their anger as they descended upon the James Street store to demonstrate about the high street outlet.
One of the organisers of the march, Takiyah Daly, told JMU Journalism: ”Debenhams is one store we target as they sell Caterpillar products. The bulldozers that Caterpillar manufactures are the same ones that the Israeli army uses to bulldoze Palestinian homes of farmers.”
The protests and demonstrations come in the wake of a summer of violence between Israel and the Palestinian people in the Middle-East. After seeing marches take place across the UK, 23-year-old Daly decided to organise activists in Liverpool, and they have been campaigning since July.
She explained: ”In some weeks up to 300 people have participated in our marches. In some cases our protesters have been spat on whilst others have been on the end of racist abuse. But, on the other hand, we have received lots of support, and sometimes people walking past the march actually join to take part in the demonstration.”
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has also been the target of Liverpool Rise for Palestine demonstrations recently, as a number of protesters descended upon his home to demonstrate against the city council’s dealings with security firm G4S, which some claim has alleged links to human rights abuses in Israel.