YCLSA congratulates the historic march for Gaza attended by over 200 00 people

10 August 2014

The Young Communist League of South Africa (uFasimba) congratulates the more than 200 000 people who took to the streets of Cape Town yesterday and joined the historic march for Gaza. The protest was the largest since democracy and was an absolute success.

Over 200 000 people of all races and religions came out to send one clear message: our government must hold Israel accountable for its barbaric attacks on the Palestinian people of Gaza. The brutality and sheer horror of the deaths of 1900 Palestinians, including 450 children by Israel has united South Africans from all walks of life in a quest for justice.

Video footage of the march shows the overwhelming numbers that attended the march.  The protest was entirely peaceful and without incident. Journalists were free to report and everyone was welcome to attend the protest which had a minimal police presence. Compare this protest for Palestine to the pro-Israel rally organised by the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) and supported by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) last week Sunday.

The Mail and Guardian reports, journalists at the Israel rally were harassed and denied entry. They were also interrogated about their views and asked how they'd report before being allowed into the event. 

The pro-Israel rally was held at a golf course and people wanting to attend had to bring their ID books with right of admission being reserved. This is unprecedented in South Africa's history and is another example of the Israeli lobby's paranoia and scare tactics.

The YCLSA National Secretary Cde Buti Manamela spoke at the historic march for Gaza and committed to boycotting Woolworths. We will campaign against Woolworths and demand they sever all trade links with apartheid Israel. 

Statement issued by Khaya Xaba, YCLSA, August 10 2014

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