Activists blocked road at docks as similar protests took place in cities around the world
Pro-Palestinian activists have held up traffic at Belfast Harbour as part of a global day of action against Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Protestors stood across both lanes of Dufferin Road, a key transit point at the harbour, as part of the call by the A15 action group for a ‘coordinated economic blockade to free Palestine’.
The group had urged activists in cities across the globe on Monday to “identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact”.
The group has claimed the global economy “is complicit in genocide” in Gaza, and the blockades were held in cities including New York, Chicago, London, Brussels and Dublin.
In Belfast, activists stood in the road at the docks, and a spokesperson said they received support from some passing drivers, while others expressed anger at the protest.
A15 protestors at Dufferin Road in Belfast's docklands on Monday.
“Overall, activists were successful in their aim to cause significant disruption to trade and, for as long as possible, halt the wheels of capital,” the spokesperson said.
“There were no arrests made – however, local police told legal observers that the action was extremely disruptive to the port’s business for the day and that repression will be robust if we ever decide to come back.
“This was a coordinated act of solidarity by participants of all ages, from both the PUL and CNR communities and from a variety of ethnic, religious, economic and national backgrounds, all united in our steadfast rejection of the horrors unfolding in Palestine.”
A PSNI spokesperson said its officers arrived at the scene on Monday morning to assist officers from Belfast Harbour Police.
Belfast Harbour Police have been approached for comment.
By Paul Ainsworth
April 15, 2024 at 7:21PM BST
by Diomas
23 comments
Tbf they picked a brilliant location to cause disruption and get attention. Whether they helped their cause or not I couldn’t say.
Holding up traffic and inconveniencing people will not win you much support, in fact probably the opposite, just look at them twats in “Extinction Rebellion” or “JustStop Oil” people despise them now, not because of what they’re protesting but because of the way they’re protesting it. They’ve fucked themselves.
And regardless, I think most people don’t give half a fuck about most things going on in the world, unless it directly affects them. Be honest, how many times have you seen something terrible on the news and said ‘oh isn’t that awful’ and then went straight back to eating your dinner or whatever other mundane thing you were doing. We’ve all done it, we all have our own worries. Something happening a thousand miles away is of little consequence when you’ve bills you’re struggling to pay and your own dramas to worry about.
Good. Keep up the pressure on these swine.
Just wait until Israel hears about this. They’ll pack it in right away, I’m sure.
[deleted]
Don’t start that blocking roads bollocks over here. We’re in a cost of living crisis and blocking roads, stopping and hindering people from getting to their jobs will not help your cause. It only nulls any point you have and makes you look a cunt.
fair play to them
No jobs to go to?
Who has the free time to be at this shit on a Monday morning
Typical terrorist supporting morons, plenty of them flags knocking about Belfast as birds of a feather flock together.
Good stuff more power to their elbows!
Absolute degenerates. If they feel so strongly about the whole thing, away over to Gaza and fight with them.
Useless gesture that probably delayed a lot of people and goods.
What’s the narrative on Iran and it’s part in all of this? It’s not exactly a country I have any sympathies for. It’s fanatical regime that ticks every box on the human rights shit-list.
Israel is an absolute asshole right now, but it has just annoyed a much bigger one with nuclear capabilities and industries that produce drones & missiles for it’s GDP.
There will never be peace while Hamas is in power.
Both sides keep seeking revenge for each act they commit to each other, they still haven’t learnt from 70 years of violence.
It will take a while, but if both sides stop this,
Israel will stop occupying gaza and will have no reason for raids into the west bank. Maybe after more years of peace. Palestinians will be able to roam freely around Israel?
If Hamas had Israel’s power or was stronger, then you would see a real genocide!
>The group had urged activists in cities across the globe on Monday to “identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact”.
They have more brains than those clowns throwing soup over paintings, at least.
Fair play
Why are they blurring out their faces?
Fair play
Great way to destroy our economy more while supporting kidnappers and Iranian terrorists who fire missiles for years and years on end. Disgusting way to waste time… Wanna help , then go there and help.
Wanna protest… Protest the years of economic chaos , cost of living, healthcare, education, lack of government for longer than any civilized society.
Nah
Lmao at the usual jobless armchair activist dickheads in the comments who think this will do anything.
Fucking morons.
Good. Free Palestine from Israeli warmongers!