Pro-Palestinian protesters were marching into Birmingham city centre this afternoon, March 2, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Two different groups of protestors met in Alum Rock and Sparkhill at around noon on Saturday, March 2, with a plan to march into the city centre and meet at Centenary Square.
The two rallies from Sparkhill and Alum Rock were due to gather together to listen to politicians speaking in support of Palestine. Crowds will call for peace and an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
A poster advertising the event described today’s peace march as “The big Birmingham demo for Palestine.” Families are expected to be travelling locally and from the wider area to take part.
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A number of Palestine protests have taken place in the city since last year, from rush-hour sit ins at Birmingham New Street station to protestors storming the Bullring building. The last peace march of this scale that took place was last month, which saw gather.
Rallies from Sparkhill and Alum Rock came together and ended up in St Martin’s Square, next to the Indoor Markets and the Bullring. It look set to be a day of protest in Birmingham today, with a separate protest planned outside the council house at 2pm to rally against council cuts.
We have a reporter on the ground following in protestors this afternoon. This is a live breaking news story, you can follow along for updates in the blog below.
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15:16James Cartledge
Crowds now in Centenary Square
The crowds have arrived in Centenary Square, where they will listen to speakers. The main crowd is starting to dissipate but some have remained. A young speaker takes to the stage to chant “Free free Palestine” and “End the genocide”. They say:
We are gathered here today to think of Palestine. Kids are losing their right to leave in peace the right to education and having their dreams stolen while us kids from the UK have everything.”
15:02James Cartledge
There could be 1,000 people on the march
The crowd makes its way through Chamberlain Square past a small Ukrainian solidarity stall. There are maybe 1,000 people here but it’s hard to estimate. The two groups move tightly towards Centenary Square. Chants include “Gaza Gaza don’t you cry we will never let you die” and “Ceasefire now”.
14:51James Cartledge
The size of the crowd on show in this picture
A good picture here shows the extent of the crowd currently filling New Street as campaigners work their way up towards Victoria Square and Centenary Square.
14:43James Cartledge
The march is heading up New Street
The campaigners are now filing up New Street heading for the administrative heart of Birmingham.
14:29Key Event
The two marches have converged and the crowd chants ‘ceasefire now’
The Sparkhill rally has joined the one from Alum Rock. The crowd has grown and is chanting “ceasefire now” before moving off to Centenary Square. Ceinwen Hilton helped lead the march from Alum Rock. The Birmingham resident and activist said:
This is our fourth or fifth ride since the bombing of Gaza began. We do rides in Birmingham but it’s a national organisation.
People find the big ride for Palestine an attractive thing to do. It’s an expression of freedom that people in Palestine don’t necessarily have.
It’s a diverse thing we’re all different ages , it’s humanitarian, I think people feel strongly because they look and see other human beings being slaughtered. It is so wrong. It’s about wanting it stop.”
14:15James Cartledge
Speakers now addressingh the crowd in High Street
The protest has now stopped outside Metro Bank as speakers address the crowd. Shoppers meander around the crowd and the usual Saturday activity from street preachers and stall holders continues.
A handful of police officers are at the scene to monitor the protest
14:09James Cartledge
‘Everybody wants a ceasefire’
Ikram Mirza, pictured above, is the spokesperson for Alum Rock Traders’ Association. He told us:
It’s been very good, we didn’t expect this many people because of the weather. There are all ages you can see here especially the traders of Alum Rock.
The community is very passionate. Everybody wants a ceasefire.”
13:59James Cartledge
Alum Rock and Sparkhill marchers now set to link up and head to Centenary Square
The group awaits the march from Sparkhill so they can rally together to finish their march in Centenary Square. Police liaison officers are stationed
13:51Key Event
Video just in shows marching crowd and chants of ‘Israel out’
We’ve just been able to upload the video above, from a little earlier in the march. It shows the crowd heading towards the city centre chanting: ‘Israel out’. The demonstrators have now reached the city centre.
13:41James Cartledge
Huge flag is being carried towards the city centre by campaigners
A large Palestine flag has been unfurled ahead of the Alum Rock march meeting the Sparkhill march.
13:32James Cartledge
Campaigners from Coventry have now joined the march
We’re now on Nechells Parkway where Coventry Palestine solidarity has joined the group. Marshalls are keeping protestors separated from the traffic.
13:22James Cartledge
The march is heading towards the city centre
The make-up of the crowd is mixed, with protestors from all races and backgrounds. Ride for Palestine leads the march at the front with young children joining parents. Students, older people and seasoned activists from the West Midlands are also in tow.
“1,2,3,4 occupation no more” rings out as protestors edge closer to the city centre. Some Drivers sound their horn in support,
13:13James Cartledge
Around 200 people on this march with numbers expected to swell
We’re crossing Saltley Road and protestors are slow marching on one side of the carriageway. The other side is open traffic and that appears to be coping well. There are chants of “Rishi Sunak shame on you” and “Kier Starner shame on you”.
We’re crossing Saltley Road and protestors are slow marching on one side of the carriageway. The other side is open traffic and that appears to be coping well. I’d estimate around 200 protestors are in this march, but a second march from Sparkhill will be joining the rally as we reach the city centre.
12:54James Cartledge
Chants of Free Free Palestine rise up as Alum Rock Road fills with protesters
Alum Rock road is now occupied by protestors. They are making their way down Alum Rock Road. Traffic on one side of the road has ground to a halt and onlookers join in with chants of Free Free Palestine. A white Lexus with a Palestine flag on its bonnet leads the march.
All seems to be going peacefully with chants for the end of war and other pro-Palestine related chants.
12:49Key Event
The crowd is on the move
Good afternoon, we’re in Alum Rock as one of two planned peace marches makes its way into Birmingham city centre. The crowd has started to make its way from the Highfield Road junction of Alum Rock road towards its destination, where protests are expected to climax later this afternoon.
Stay with us for the latest updates from the march.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.