The picket of Marks and Spencer, Oxford Street, London went well this week, despite the usual heckling from the Zionist counter-demonstration, organised by Betar, reaching a new level of hysteria and filth.

Although for the past two weeks, the police have chosen to put barriers around the Betar counter-picket, leaving us free to leaflet and discuss with members of the public, this week they were back to corralling us in as well. Apparently this was due to a complaint from River Island, which is next to M&S!?

The regular attenders from the Victory to the Intifada were joined by visitors, including people from Lebanon, Libya, France and Kashmir, some of whom are active in supporting the Palestinian struggle at home and were delighted to see us spreading the message in London. Speeches were made in English, Arabic and French and particularly highlighted the current situation in Zionist prisoners where 3,500 prisoners are on hunger strike in an attempt to obtain basic rights and humane conditions. A comrade from France also spoke about the solidarity work his group is engaged in, and the approaching anniversary of the massacres at Sabra and Shatila.

As well as the London picket, there are also weekly pickets in Manchester and regular demos in other cities, including Glasgow, Leicester, Canterbury and Durham and other parts of London, including Camden, Holloway and Brixton. M&S has just launched a poster campaign with the slogan ‘Your M&S’ – so why not find ‘yours’ and start an action in solidarity with the struggle of the people in Palestine?


Victory to the Intifada!