Lisbon takes to the streets on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Solidarity with Palestine once again brought hundreds of people together in Lisbon's Praça Martim Moniz in the late afternoon of Wednesday 29 November, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in response to an appeal made by CGTP-IN, CPPC, MPPM and Projecto Ruído.

The event began with a die-in, an initiative of the Palestinian community to honour the victims of the Israeli massacre of the people of Gaza.  After a presentation by Dima Dijoore and Ana Nicolau, dozens of people lay down on the floor in a state of silence only interrupted by appropriate Palestinian music.  The die-in ended to the sound of "Grândola Vila Morena."

Sofia Lisboa then read two "Gaza Monologues" from a collection of testimonies from children and young people in Gaza in the aftermath of the cowardly aggression of 2008-2009, which Israel dubbed "Operation Cast Lead."

Serenah Sabat, a Palestinian refugee living in Portugal, explained why she had to leave Palestine and how, in Portugal, she contributes to mobilising with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

The solidarity of young people and Portuguese workers was evident in the speeches by Inês Caeiro, of Projeto Ruído, and João Barreiros, of CGTP-IN.

This was followed by a moment of poetry, with Palestinian poets read by Maria Emília Castanheira and Fernando Rebelo.

The period of speeches was rounded off with contributions by Rui Garcia, representing CPPC, and Carlos Almeida, on behalf of MPPM.

The event, which was presented by Fernando Jorge, closed with the musical participation of Jorge Rivotti and Rui Galveias.

To continue this wave of awareness and solidarity with the Palestinian people, which has already seen almost four dozen initiatives across the country, a large demonstration is being called for 8 December, starting at Praça Martim Moniz and ending at Largo José Saramago in Lisbon.