World
PETA stunt displays ‘trapped orca’ in busy shopping street to protest animal abuse in leisure tourism
An activist dressed up as an “orca” was displayed in a ‘tank’ outside a leisure tourism store in Birmingham today, protesting alleged animal cruelty. The publicity stunt organised by animal rights group PETA involved a campaigner in a dolphin costume pleading to be freed as they lay “trapped in a cramped tank” outside TUI’s Birmingham city centre store in…
Pro-Palestine activists hold silent die-in to protest Birmingham Pride “genocide” sponsorship
Dozens of pro-Palestine demonstrators staged a powerful protest in Birmingham today (May 25) to coincide with the Birmingham Pride parade amid controversy over the event’s headline sponsor. The West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign (WMPSC) held a ‘die-in’ outside the Bullring shopping centre as the Pride parade passed by, to bring attention to the recent war on Palestine.
LGBT+ groups announce renewed calls for Birmingham Pride boycott amid ongoing Gaza crisis
LGBTQ+ groups have renewed calls for a boycott of Birmingham Pride this weekend in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Activists are urging members of the community to boycott the event until organisers sever ties with headline sponsor HSBC, who they claim is funding arms sales to Israel.
International aid agencies warn of starvation and death as Israel seizes Rafah crossing, restricting humanitarian aid flow into Gaza
International aid groups have warned of exacerbating an already grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza if an Israeli offensive on Rafah goes ahead, after Israel blocked the supply of essential aid and demanded thousands of people leave the city. Already severely constricted by eight months of war on Palestine, the flow of emergency food and medicine…
Protesters challenging Rwanda plan arrested outside Home Office immigration centre in Solihull
Police officers arrested 13 protesters following a demonstration at a Home Office immigration centre in Solihull yesterday evening. The group were apprehended just after 9pm on Monday (April 29), after preventing access to Sandford House, where they had spent most of the day in support of 5 asylum seekers who had reportedly been detained by authorities in…
Activists ‘occupy’ Birmingham New Street Station to protest “deplorable” Gaza aid suspension
Pro-Palestine activists have held an “emergency occupation” of Birmingham New Street Station, protesting against the British government’s “deplorable decision” to suspend funding to UNRWA. Called with less than 24 hours notice, around 100 people gathered on the station concourse yesterday evening (Monday 29 January) to voice their opposition to the UK suspending payments to the UNRWA, the…
Gaza campaigners block entrance to Barclays bank in Birmingham city centre amid boycott action
A group of protesters blocked the entrance of a Barclays bank in Birmingham to highlight the ongoing bombing of Gaza. The activists held aloft Palestinians flags and banners in front of the city centre branch yesterday (Saturday 27 January) as part of a national day of continuing protests against the bank.
“No words for such madness”: George Galloway decries ‘ban’ from Birmingham Palestine protest
George Galloway has condemned allegedly being banned from addressing a Birmingham pro-Palestine protest, amid claims he was “refused the right to speak” over his views on UK border controls. Attending the mass rally in the city last weekend, the firebrand political figure initially hoped to speak to the near 10,000 people who turned out for the event.
Community to stage charity sleepout in Birmingham to raise funds for Gaza children this winter
A community sleepout in the open outdoors is set to take place in Birmingham next month to raise funds for Palestinian children in the besieged Gaza strip. With the motto to “challenge yourself for a night to sleep under the stars so a child in Gaza won’t have to”, the fundraising event is being organised…
Why are pro-Palestinian activists targeting Barclays bank?
In recent weeks, pro-Palestine protests have been held across the country in response to the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Among the calls for a ceasefire, activists have been pushing for a boycott of companies believed to be funding or supporting Israel’s military machine or state policies. Popularly known as ‘BDS’ – Boycott, Divestment and…