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A March of Mourning

On the morning of Friday 17th January, 90 people from across Devon and Cornwall walked in silence through Totnes in a March of Mourning for the huge loss and suffering in Gaza of the last 15 months. Some were dressed as Gazan medics and journalists, others carried shrouded babies. Many carried placards documenting the immense loss of life, the targeting and killing of over 1000 medics, 200 journalists, and 17,000 children, and the lack of truth-telling of many news outlets.

March Of Mourning Image by Lou Brown
Image by Jane Knight

In the town square, shoppers stopped to listen to recent testimonies of Palestinian children, journalists, and medics – each voice expressing the desire for peace and safety.“Palestinians have been living through a genocide this year. They have had their basic human rights denied: safety, food, shelter, medical aid –  rights that so many of us are able to take for granted,” said Lou Brown, one of the marches organisers.
“Despite our huge relief at the news of a ceasefire, we know that the targeting of these specific groups is something we have witnessed for decades.” 

“We are here today to give voice to Palestinians and their suffering, something that often gets little coverage in the UK.”
The march was organised by Totnes Friends of Palestine, a local group comprising people from many backgrounds. “Our group is made up of all ages, faiths, and nationalities: Jews, Christians,  Muslims and Atheists, with people from the UK, Israel, and Lebanon all working together today to highlight the often unspoken horrors of the last 15 months. Today has been a sad day, remembering all the families lost and destruction wraught.”
Image by Lou Brown
Image by Jane Knight

The marchers with their placards lined the pavements leaving the town, for all to see as they drove past.

A soundtrack of mourning and requiem masses accompanied the march, inviting those walking to grieve the last 15 months of a live-streamed genocide. There is now an estimated figure of 186,000 dead in Gaza, according to The Lancet.

(Article amended 20th January to properly credit images to Jane Knight)

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