Palestine contingent in November 22nd Student Demonstration
End the Siege ! Stand with Palestinian Students !
- Thursday November 22nd, 1pm
« La place du Peuple »
(metro Square Victoria)
Montreal, Quebec
Photo: Palestinian Students at Israeli check-point.
As the first week of Israel’s operation “Pillar of Clouds” draws to an end, more than 120 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, including 24 children. For Palestinians in Gaza, are denied the fundamental right to education. Through the ongoing siege on Gaza the continued air strikes, and the effects of the 2008 operation Cast Lead that resulted in 1,400 deaths, Palestinians in Gaza are denied the fundamental right to education.
On Thursday November 22nd students in Montréal and across the globe will be marching for accessible education. This demonstration is being held at the same time as thousands of Palestinians students continue to face daily bombardment from the Israeli Military. Our solidarity is a must! As ASSÉ (l’Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante), the coalition of student unions currently leading the student strike, asserted in their recent call out for student solidarity: “It is our responsibility to show them that we, students of Quebec, stand in solidarity of every movement, of every struggle. To global attacks, let’s build an international response!”
In this spirit, Tadamon! calls for a Palestine solidarity bloc at the major student protest on November 22nd. This action will highlight the long-standing solidarity work that has been undertaken by the Quebéc student movement in support of Palestinian students struggling against the policies of Israeli occupation and apartheid.
In May 2008, ASSÉ became the first major student union in North America to support the growing boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement in solidarity with Palestine.
Let us join together on the streets of Montréal to continue the demands for accessible education and also remember the struggles being waged by Palestinian students. On a daily basis, Palestinian students fight for the right to education under apartheid policies enforced by the Israeli Occupation Forces. Regularly, Palestinian universities in the West Bank face closure by the Israeli military, and students are often blocked from accessing university campuses like Al Najah University in Nablus. In the Gaza Strip, entire departments of the Islamic University in Gaza were destroyed in indiscriminate bombings during Israel’s 2009 invasion.
In recent years, students in Gaza have systematically been refused the ability to study abroad, to access granted scholarships, and participate in international exchange programs because of the Israeli siege. Palestinian students under the system of Israeli apartheid control are struggling every day for their basic rights to education.
Free Palestine ! End the Siege !
Tadamon! Montreal
