Mothers stand in solidarity with Palestine
On June 14, hundreds of mothers and daughters gathered at Sea Point Pavilion to raise their voices in solidarity with the countless Palestinian families affected by violence, calling for peace and justice.
The Silent Solidarity Walk to stop the "Gaza holocaust" started at the Sea Point Lighthouse and turned around at the pavilion. It was held in unison with Global March to Gaza (GMTG), on Sunday June 15.
The GMTG is a peaceful civic, apolitical and independent movement of protesters walking to Gaza to open the borders and allow aid to Palestinians.
Cousins Abida Amien, from Rylands, Feroza Amien, from Woodstock, and Shanaaz Sonday, from Belthorn, holding dolls in unison with Palestinian mothers whose children were killed, during a Silent Solidarity Walk, at Sea Point Pavilion on Saturday June 14.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Mothers For Gaza led the walk with attendees wearing black and keffiyehs; carrying Palestinian flags, flowers, empty pots, bowls and dolls enshrouded in white cloth in which the dead are buried.
Walker Liesl Jobson, from Zeekoevlei, said she was holding an empty bowl because Palestinians do not have water, flour or food to put in their bellies.
"I am here today to symbolically show that we need to be filled spiritually and fill the Palestinians' bowls with food or water. We need to be nourished to stand together and end this deprivation," she said.
Pictured at the back putting a bowl in her bag is Liesl Jobson, from Zeekoevlei. In front, from left, holding dolls enshrouded in white cloth in preparation for burial, are Mureeda Kara, from Walmer Estate, Nazli Rahim, from Rondebosche, and Naima Omar, from Bokaap.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Mothers4Gaza's Ayesha Bagus, thanked participants for choosing to show up, to speak up and to stand firm.
She said that Gaza was not a war zone but rather "a graveyard for humanity's conscience".
Ms Bagus said the walk was to: "Save the children. A walk of rage. A walk of love. A walk of defiance."
After the walk, she called on a line-up of all-women speakers to deliver short, powerful poems and messages in standing for peace, justice and dignity.
Nazeena Hassim, from Healthcare Workers for Palestine, in a statement of solidarity, greeted participants: "I stand before you today, not just as a member of healthcare workers for Palestine South Africa, Gift of the Givers or as a South African. I stand before you as a sister, an aunt, a daughter, a mother, and above all, as a human being who refuses to be silent."
She said the solidarity carried the "voices of the children of Gaza, children who have seen more destruction than joy. Those who have heard more drones than laughter, and who sleep not to dream, but to survive. These are not just numbers on a news screen".
"These are real children, with names, with toys, with mothers who pray every night they make it to morning. From the besieged streets of Gaza. To the scorched villages of Sudan. From the war-torn landscapes of the Congo. To the occupied valleys of Kashmir. Children are being starved, bombed, orphaned and erased. And here at home in South Africa we carry a legacy of resistance," she said.
Richelle Steyn, from Woodstock, waving the Palestinian flag high, along Sea Point promenade.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Walking ahead of the protest, the Atlantic Sun caught up with artist and humanitarian Richelle Steyn, from Woodstock, who regularly walks along the promenade carrying the Palestinian flag, to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza.
"We need to speak out against apartheid and for restorative justice in the country, where it has not happened since 1994. Regardless of the political situation, apartheid is a crime against humanity," she said.
She said raising awareness was necessary.
"A lot of people ask me what flag is that? Is it the Mexican flag?" she said.
While walking alongside Ms Steyn, a runner told her: "Go somewhere else".
To which she responded, "Free Palestine".
Mothers For Gaza members Ayesha Bagus and Irene Knight show off their stance as "Woman. Mother. Human" and "Mother. Activist. Human as the face Signal Hill and Lion's Head.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
The following organisations took part; South African Women in Dialogue, Conscious Consumers for Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, South African Jews for a free Palestine (SAJFP), South African Christians for a free Palestine and Mothers for Gaza.