London Freelance Branch is calling on journalists and media workers to join us on Wednesday 27 August at 17:30 opposite Downing St, where we will honour the courageous reporting of the journalists of Gaza.Â
We will read out the names of those killed and honour the bravery of our colleagues who continue to report, knowing that they may be killed at any moment.
We express our solidarity with our colleagues in Gaza and demand protection for those reporting, justice, and an end to impunity for the slaughter of journalists in the Gazan genocide.The reading of the names is the main event. Sadly the “double-tap” airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, killing journalists, alongside rescue workers, as they responded to the first “tap”, along with further confirmations of earlier deaths by the International Federation of Journalists, brings our count of colleagues killed in Gaza to 222 – plus 2 in the West Bank, 4 in Israel, 9 in Lebanon, 1 in Syria and 3 in Iran.
We will also hear a recorded message from Al Jazeera Gazan reporter Wael Al Dahdouh. Ahmed Alanouq of the Gazan “We Are Not Numbers” project will speak, as will Sangita Myska, late of LBC Radio.
This event will follow the handing in of a letter, setting out demands and questions to Keir Starmer, to 10 Downing Street at 16:00. You are welcome to come to wave us off then, too, if you can. The letter is now co-signed by London Central Branch, NUJ London Magazine Branch, London Digital Media Branch, officers of the FT Group Chapel, Brussels Branch, NUJ Ethics Council and noted film-maker Sarah Beddington.
Please join us when you can. Please share this widely.
For details of speakers as they are confirmed and information on other branches’ statements and events see:
https://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/2508gaza-vigil-2.html
We also urge you to write to Keir Starmer & David Lammy: see Open letter on protecting journalists and defending truth in Gaza on nuj.org.uk