Over the period of two weeks before the vigil, sessions were held, in which a number of members of the public wrote the names and helped us to make the banners, out of a series of white fabric rolls. This was a powerful and sombring experience, providing an opportunity to meditate on the reality of names and lives that have been los in the recent bombings.

During the vigil more than 100 people held up the banners that had been created, over 100 meters in length in total. The banners held the names of almost 600 people who have died in Gaza in recent times. The vigil was a way of marking and protesting the suffering in Gaza, and the banners were a powerful way to humanise the mounting death toll.

One vigil participant said "I saw one passer by with her hand over her mouth, overwhelmed by what she was seeing and reading"

We created a powerful resource - a graphic and strong image that brings a level of reality to the numbers of people who died in Gaza. For the people who made the banners, and those who participated in the vigil, it was a sombre but galvanising experience.

The video captures this experience, and also uses powerful music, written for Gaza by a Kashmiri band, Abar the Band. Please watch and share widely.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tmhScEWGlQ&feature=youtu.be

Many members of the public have engaged positively with the vigils and protests in Lancaster, readily engaging in discussion, taking leaflets, and giving generously to collections for Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Whilst we have plans to continue using the banners we also wanted to offer them to other groups (you would need to collect & return, or pay for the postage)