Hundreds gathered in Aston, Birmingham, to demand that Israeli football teams be banned from multinational competitions. This was regarding the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Gaza, where thousands have been injured and killed in the brutal ethnic cleansing orchestrated by the state of Israel. The peaceful march took place at Aston Park, near the Aston Villa stadium, where the match was being played.
The protest took place on a cold Tuesday evening. The crowds began forming at 5 pm and grew steadily as the evening progressed. Protesters waved Palestinian flags, wore keffiyehs, and carried banners with slogans such as ‘Gaza: starvation is being used as a weapon of war’, ‘Free Palestine’, alongside the most common simply stating ‘Give Israel the red card’. Whilst the aim of the protest was to demand the removal of Israeli teams from multinational competitions.
There was a clear underlying message to bring justice to Palestine and Gaza.
The police were in attendance in large numbers, with 700 police officers dispersed, alongside police dogs, police horses, and a drone unit. In addition to the police, Local MP Ayoub Khan was also in attendance, displaying solidarity for the cause. The local MP gave a speech, where he stated his stance on the matter, calling on UEFA to give Israel the red card.
The atmosphere was peaceful until a counter-protest formed, with rumoured reform voters taking an aggressive stance. They opposed the ban and stood with Maccabi fans. This added tension to the atmosphere, and what started off as a peaceful protest ended with 5 people arrested for racially aggravated offences, and with the arrest of a 17-year-old boy who refused to leave after a dispersal order was released.
The demonstration came amid growing international concern over thousands murdered in Palestine by IDF forces. Including 800 Gaza athletes and 350 footballers. In addition to this, 440 civilians, including 147 children, have died from a man-made famine that is a direct result of Israel’s 23-month blockade. The Palestinian struggle has spanned for over seventy-five years and has yet to cease. The severity of the situation is displayed through the UN’s warning that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached ‘horrific proportions’, yet minimal effort has been made to aid the situation. Protests, such as these, have been materializing all over the country, in Leeds, Manchester, London, and elsewhere.
As the final whistle blew inside Aston Villa Stadium, chants of ‘Give Israel the red card’ resounded outside. The protesters, emotionally charged, remained peaceful. The police, in large numbers, closely monitored the event, and no major disturbances were reported.
Eirej Sharaz
Birmingham City University Socialist Students