Maree Shepherd speaking on Composite D – Palestine
“On 31st May, Israel women’s football team (many of which are members of the IDF) came to Glasgow, my home city, to play Scotland. The campaign group called Show Israeli Genocide The Red Card that I’m part of, opposed this game taking place, as we saw it legitimising the genocide in Palestine and allowing Israel to operate, business as usual.
“Due to pressure from our group, the game was played behind closed doors, it gained media attention locally and even internationally and the game was even delayed for 40 minutes as a brave protestor chained himself to the goal post.”
“This sent a message to cowardly Western authorities such as UEFA and more importantly to Israel themselves, that it is not in fact business as usual for them while they commit genocide. It sent a message that we will continue to boycott Israel culturally and financially and they even reported this in their own media. So the message was heard loud and clear.”
“Throughout the campaign, we had valuable support from trade union activists, including some who are in this room today and trade unions SHOULD be at the very centre of supporting Palestinians to be free. It’s the very core of what we do to speak up for those without a voice? We owe it to Palestinians to stand up for them NOW and not to wait for Labour to grow a back bone and call for an end to genocide, including the UKs part in arming Israel.”
“UNISON should NOT be cosying up to Labour politicians who stay silent on this issue. We should be pushing them to shout loudly in support of the oppressed and if we don’t, are we not failing as trade unionists? We must stand up, speak up and do our bit to boycott Israel and call out Western powers for their complicity and it is NOT hate speech to call for the liberation of all Palestinians.”