Fundraising Walk for Gaza planned, in defiance of ‘violent thugs’

Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi have announced that they will hold another fundraising walk from Hastings to Bexhill on Sunday 10 of August after a woman on a recent fundraising walk suffered a serious attack. Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Katy Colley reports.

The woman who was attacked was planning to greet the walkers on the last fundraising walk as they arrived in Bexhill on Sunday 20 June. She was waiting at the De La Warr Pavilion wearing a keffiyah (a traditional Palestinian scarf) when a man approached her without warning to grab the scarf from her neck and called her a ‘terrorist’. A violent assault ensued and police have launched an investigation.

In a separate incident another man carrying an Israeli flag followed walkers along the route shouting threats and abuse.

Richard Wistreich who is a member of Hastings Jews for Justice and was wearing a Hastings Jews for Justice (HJJ) t-shirt on the day said, ‘Because I was the only walker visibly identifiable as Jewish, I was singled out for a rabid verbal attack. He not only screamed in my face that I am not a Jew, repeatedly calling me a Nazi (in fact, my father narrowly escaped being annihilated in the Holocaust, as many in my family were), but threatened to hit me (I’m twice his age). Such deeply antisemitic abuse reveals his profound ignorance.’

The walk, which was attended by dozens of local people, including young children, raised over £4,300 for people in Al-Mawasi, which is a town in Gaza with longstanding links to Hastings. Hastings Borough Council recently voted to formally support and promote the friendship link between Hastings and Al-Mawasi, and Councillor Becca Horn, Hastings’ Mayor, said she was shocked by the attack and hoped to attend the next fundraising walk.

Marked escalation

It appears there has been a marked escalation of threatening and abusive behaviour in the past few weeks, aimed at people in the town who show sympathy or support for the people of Palestine.

Steph Warren, owner of the Stella Dore Gallery, one of a number of local businesses that have been targeted with stickers about ‘hamas’ and ‘anti-semitism’ said, ‘I have proudly displayed posters in my window advertising community events like the recent “Oh Big Blue” poetry exhibition by children in Gaza, and there is no way I am going to be intimidated by these pro-genocide hate-mongers. I hope many more people will join me on the fundraising walk on 10 August, and show that these cowardly bullies are the minority who will never silence the vast majority of our town who stand for peace and justice.’

Stooge Cafe were also undeterred by the actions of what they called ‘a tiny, sad minority’ and said, ‘We know our customers appreciate our display of solidarity… just last week we had two Palestinian families drop in for drinks after seeing our sign. They said it gave them some comfort knowing that there is community support for them, that folks like us are disgusted by our government.’

Emboldening thugs

Grace Lally, one of the organisers of Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi, said ‘it’s no coincidence that in the weeks since the Government labelled Palestine Action as terrorists, and the police started arresting peaceful anti-genocide protestors, we have seen an increase in threatening and violent behaviour by people who support Israel’s genocidal actions. The local Labour MP, Helena Dollimore, recently accused Palestine campaigners of endangering her, when they called on her personally to condemn Israel. But it is clear that by falsely labelling anti-genocide campaigners as some kind of threat, our MP and our government are emboldening violent thugs who now feel empowered to treat even young children on a fundraising walk as if they are “terrorists” who deserve to be hounded and abused.’

For the woman who was attacked in Bexhill (who doesn’t wish to be named) the parallels with the violence being meted out to people in Palestine are clear. She wrote:

‘What happened to me, a single act of violence, echoes the deeper, ongoing violence that Palestinians endure every day. It was a glimpse into the hatred they face simply for existing. And yet, they continue to resist, to survive, to hold onto their humanity in the face of unimaginable cruelty. My bruises will heal. But Gaza continues to bleed. We are failing to see that if genocide is allowed and international law is being broken with impunity, then in times of conflict, we are all at risk of the same fate. In this sense, we are all Palestinian. We must not look away and we can not allow this hatred and violence to stain our own communities.’

Further incidents have been reported to the police in recent weeks including a woman who was targeted for abuse leaving her home because of a Palestine poster in her window, and subsequently received an intimidating message directly to her phone.

Solidarity statements

The pattern of women being targeted by aggressive men seems to be another feature of these incidents, and a local women’s group issued a statement saying, ‘Hastings Women’s Voice is horrified to hear that a woman supporting Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi was physically attacked on Sunday on the seafront. Sending our solidarity and sending our best wishes. Women’s Voice deplores all violence, but particularly violence against women, and stands shoulder to shoulder with those campaigning against the genocide in Gaza.’

Hastings Mosque also issued a statement extending their solidarity and calling for a community response: ‘To our dear sister, we extend our heartfelt duas and unwavering support. You are not alone. You belong. You are cared for.’ ‘Let this terrible act not sow fear, but awaken our collective conscience. Let it deepen our solidarity and strengthen our resolve to build a community where everyone, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or cause they stand for, can walk with dignity and without fear.’

A Sussex Police statement said ‘Police received a report of an assault on a woman by a man in Bexhill at about 1.30pm on Sunday, 20 July. It happened on the beach side at the front of the De La Warr Pavilion. Officers are investigating, and witnesses or anyone with information can report it to Sussex Police online, quoting serial 414 of 20/07.’

The fundraising walk will leave the Stade at 11am on Sunday 10 August aiming to arrive in Bexhill De la Warr Pavillion at around 1pm. For sponsorship forms or more information contact hastingsalmawasi@gmail.com

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