Journalism & News from Bournemouth University

Bournemouth Solidarity Movement grateful for support after vigil

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One year on from the October 7th attacks, Buzz news reports from a vigil held to commemerate all Palestinian lives lost in the past year.

A 'Liberation not Occupation' banner held up at Bournemouth War Memorial. There are several candles surrounding it.
The 'Liberation not Occupation' banner held up.

A member of The Palestinian Solidarity Movement has thanked Bournemouth locals for commemorating Palestinians killed in the ongoing conflict.

The Palestinian Solidarity Movement is a local group from Bournemouth that is fighting for the freedom of Palestine and other states currently occupied by Israel.

The group has held regular demonstrations and protests since the attacks against Israel on October 7th caused an escalation of the conflict in Gaza and across the Middle East.

Lennox Robertson, a member of the volunteer committee for the group, said he was extremely grateful for the support shown for Palestine in the local community.

“I’m incredibly touched, proud and moved by the many members of the Bournemouth community who attended our peaceful, candlelit vigil on Monday, October 7th,” he said.

“It was peaceful and dignified, as intended. We appreciate all who attended and stood with us, showing solidarity with the Palestinian people as we have for now over a year.”

Members of the PSM hold up banners with messages about Palestine
Attendees of the Palestine vigil hold up strong messages.

Around 100 members of the Bournemouth community showed up at the Bournemouth War Memorial to mourn the loss of Palestinian lives.

The group decorated the cenotaph with candles and a banner displaying the statement ‘liberation not occupation’.

Palestinian flags were also waved and held by attendees as well as handmade signs displaying their own messages.

The vigil began with statistics of Palestinian deaths, injuries and other devastations that have occured within the past year.

Speaking before the vigil, Robertson said: “We really do need to come together to remember all of the lives that have been lost. Any innocent lives that have been lost, regardless of where they’re from.

“It’s an important day because it’s been exactly a year since the genocide in Gaza started. Ever since October 7th, what has come of it has been tens of thousands of lives lost. Over 16,000 children have been killed.”

Several members of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement read aloud their own poems they had written about their own thoughts and feelings on the ongoing conflict.

A moment of silence was also held before a silent march through the gardens and square closed the vigil.

The group will be heading to Cardiff on Saturday to protest against the British Government’s handling of the war in Gaza.