Pro-Palestine protest takes Freedom Park by storm

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Days after a pro-Palestine event at art space Ranga Shankara was cancelled due to intervention by JP Nagar police, several hundreds flocked at Freedom park, in sympathy of the bombings in Gaza on Tuesday.

The protest, led by student and resident organisations, saw feverous chants of justice for the innocent lives lost in the bombings, which started on October 7.

The protestors, who held flags of Palestine, and posters depicting the reality that is being ungrounded everyday, condemned both the state and the centre on their role in suppressing the right to express.

“We were only going to read poems and conduct plays, the cancellation is unfair,” a protestor said.

Another clarified to the gathering that the protest is not only specific to the inhumane acts carried by Israel, but also on violations of human rights on a global scale.

“We condemn whoever hurt others on the grounds of race, caste and religion,” said another protestor.

Rajshekar Hakki said they finally got the permission from the police to protest and opined that this is a "good start."

The city has seen a series of such demonstrations being curbed by police forces. On October 16, the Cubbon Park Police had booked 11 people for holding a pro-Palestine rally on MG Road without permission.

On November 5, a march on Church Street saw people holding placards of watermelons, which was curbed by police forces.