Today, supporters of Youth Demand laid a wreath at the cenotaph, whilst other groups have been swarming in British cities to call for an end to genocide. Youth Demand are campaigning for a two-way arms embargo on Israel and for the UK government to halt all new oil and gas licences granted since 2021. [1]
At around 14:30 supporters of Youth Demand laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who fell in battle resisting genocide, and to call on the Government to respect the sacrifice of those who died by ending the support for the ongoing mass murder of Palestinians. They could be seen holding a banner which read ‘Lammy Stop Arming Genocide.’ The police subsequently removed the wreath stating it was ‘inappropriate’.
Youth Demand supporters have also been disrupting the traffic in British cities today, in order to call for an immediate arms embargo.
At 11am, a group of Youth Demand supporters silently blocked the road outside of the Houses of Parliament during the Armistice Day remembrance service. The group could be seen holding signs which read ‘Never Again for Anyone’ and ‘Over 186,000 Dead’.
At around 12:10 the group also occupied the road on Cannon Street until around 12:25. The group then moved on and at around 13:10 they disrupted the road at Moorgate, on the London Wall Road until around 13:30.
Also at around 9am this morning, supporters of Youth Demand swarmed the streets at two locations in Manchester. Police issued warnings under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002 and took details of all participants, warning the supporters would be arrested if they attempted to enter the road again.
A Youth Demand spokesperson said:
“On this day we remember those who gave their lives fighting a genocide. Yet the government disgraces their memory by continuing to sell UK made weapons to a state guilty of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
“The world said ‘never again’ would we allow such atrocities to happen, and yet it is happening again right now to the people of Gaza, whilst the Western political establishment and media continue to misdirect the public about what is transpiring. Regardless of our differences we must come together to demand our political leaders take the basic steps to protect the lives of innocent people, or we will have truly lost our humanity.”
One of those taking action today is Lia-Anjali Lazarus, 20, a languages and politics student from London, who said:
“Never again means never again for anyone. Our government honoring those who fell resisting genocide, whilst also selling arms to a state committing genocide is beyond hypocritical. I feel obliged to take action as it is clear our government will not cut arms ties with Israel without pressure and demand from the general public.”
“We are seeing the mass slaughter of Palestinian people and we are seeing killer floods in Spain. These crises are a direct result of our leaders prioritising profit over human lives, be it by selling weapons or continuing to drill for oil and gas. We demand it stops now.”
Also taking action in Manchester today is Jazz Dean, 23, a care worker from Manchester, who said:
“We don’t want to be disrupting people’s day, but when there is a genocide happening and innocent civilians are losing their lives day after day we cannot stand by. Direct action works, this is why we’re doing it. Our government is complicit in genocide. They continue to buy and sell weapons with Israel. We know what those weapons are used for and that is why we must act.”
Young people will not accept our politicians supporting the murder of innocent people. This week, young people are taking action in cities all around the country. Sign up for the national week of action starting today at https://youthdemand.org.
ENDS
Youth Demand Press contact: 07762 987334
Press email: [email protected]
High quality images & video here: Youth Demand! Press Media | PUBLIC
Website: https://youthdemand.org
Twitter: https://x.com/youth_demand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_youthdemand
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youth.demand
Notes to Editors
[1] Youth Demand is a youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide, demanding a two-way arms embargo on Israel and an end to all oil and gas projects licensed since 2021. Youth Demand is part of Umbrella and a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
