“No conflict of any size in history has ever been this deadly to journalists. Stop the War welcomes this NUJ London Freelance branch initiative to honour the over 100 reporters, camera operators, sound technicians and other media workers killed.”
Jennie Walsh, Stop the War Coalition press officer and NUJ member
By Matt Willgress, Labour Outlook
The London Freelance Branch of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is organising a vigil and rally to honour the deaths of over 100 journalists killed by Israeli forces’ brutal assault in Gaza over the past six months.
The 125 reported killed so far comprises by far the highest death toll among journalists in any known war.
The vigil will be held at Downing Street on Monday evening, April 29, with the date planned to coincide with International Workers’ Memorial Day – when trade unions around the world commemorate colleagues killed in the course of their work.
Speakers will include UK and Palestinian journalists, plus health workers and teachers who have been invited to commemorate a large number of losses among their fellow workers in Gaza.
Ahead of the rally, Tim Gopsill, Chair of the NUJ London Freelance Branch, said:
“The message on Workers Memorial Day is to honour the dead and fight for the living.
“Palestinians use the word “martyrs” to honour their dead. We mourn our martyrs as we admire the extraordinary dedication and courage of all our colleagues in Gaza. We will do all that we can to help them.”
Jennie Walsh, Stop the War Coalition press officer and NUJ member welcomed the rally and action coordinated on International Workers Memorial Day:
“No conflict of any size in history has ever been this deadly to journalists. Stop the War welcomes this NUJ London Freelance branch initiative to honour the over 100 reporters, camera operators, sound technicians and other media workers killed by Israeli forces during its Gaza genocide.
“IWMD is an annual day marked by trade unions to remember all workers who have lost their lives to workplace illness, injury and accidents and to recommit to fighting to keep workers safe.
“At the heart of the trade union movement lies international solidarity, which the Palestinians so urgently need. It is therefore only right that we are remembering workers killed in Gaza and I hope to see many other unions doing the same.”
- The Downing Street vigil for Gaza journalists killed by Israeli forces takes place on Monday 29 April, 6.30pm, Opposite Downing Street.
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