There were tense scenes across Manchester today (November 18) as thousands of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched and chanted their way through the city centre for the sixth weekend in a row.
Crowds gathered at Whitworth Park at 12pm before making their way down Oxford Road and continuing towards Manchester Cathedral.
On route, protestors targeted a Starbucks and Pret A Manger shop, shouting ‘shame on you’ and ‘boycott Pret’ while customers inside looked on in bewilderment. The protestors claim that the two chains are supporting Israel by opening outlets in the country.
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The ‘main target’ was however the Fisher German offices in Centurion House on Deansgate - due to the property surveying company's links to Elbit Systems, which protesters claim produces specialist electrical equipment for military use by Israel.
As the sea of demonstrators reached Centurion House, police officers scrambled to block the entrance as chants of ‘Fisher German shame on you’ filled the air. Officers also formed a line in front of the Starbucks branch located within the same building that was closed 'due to unforeseen circumstances', according to a note posted on the front door.
The Manchester Evening News has approached Starbucks and Pret for comment.
Fears of disorder rose again when protestors reached Manchester Cathedral and several demonstrators began to climb the part of the cathedral, before being told to get down by police.
Following several speeches outside the cathedral, demonstrators moved on to the nearby Manchester Victoria station where an unplanned ‘sit-in’ was staged. After a small group of protesters entered, police swarmed the station’s entrances and refused to let anyone in who did not have a ticket in a bid to control numbers.
Around half an hour later police stepped aside and allowed the protesters blocked from entering to join the sit-in which continued until around 5pm.
It is estimated by organisers that thousands of people attended the demonstration, planned by the Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, which is the latest in a series of pro-Palestinian protests that have been held in Manchester since the conflict in the region began.
Chants of ‘cease fire now’ and ‘stop bombing Gaza’ rang out among demonstrators from groups including Manchester Palestine Action, Jewish Voices for Labour and Oldham United for Palestine.
Norma Turner, the chair of Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, told demonstrators ahead of the march: “By fighting for the Palestinians we are fighting for the whole of humanity.”
One protestor within the crowd, who did not give her name, said: “We’re here fighting for equality and human rights. It’s not something we can overlook genocide is happening”.
More than 100 pro-Palestinian protests are believed to have taken place across the UK this weekend as part of a national day of action, with events also scheduled to take place in Liverpool, London and Birmingham.
Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said earlier this week this weekend's rallies are being held to support a ceasefire.
