WalkThePetition comes to Nenagh
From this Thursday to Saturday, September 19 to 21, the WalkThePetition campaign, supporting the adoption of the Occupied Territories Bill by the Government, will pass through Tipperary on its way from Caherciveen to Dublin.
The event is inspired by the South Kerry Friends of Palestine and Kerry Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and is supported by the Nenagh Friends (NFOP) of Palestine and North Tipperary IPSC. It involves walking a petition - demanding that the government immediately enact the bill, famously championed by Senator Frances Black - to the gates of Leinster House for presentation to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The petition has been signed by over 10,000 people, instructing the national legislature to forbid trade with any businesses operating in lands deemed illegally held under international law. This would take particular focus on occupied Palestinian lands held by Israel.
“As evidenced by the 10,000 WalkThePetition signatures, the people of Ireland passionately want our government to be more proactive in promoting a lasting peace, and safe and secure livelihoods for all in the Middle East. Enacting the Occupied Territories Bill would be an important step in those regards,” said NFOP member, Fergal McDonnell.
“The bill has already been through the various legislative stages and just needs to be implemented by our government. The merit of this law – that Ireland does not accept goods produced from lands which are illegally occupied as stated under international law – is undeniable. This ought to be a minimum response from our Government to the ongoing, relentless extermination of Palestinian civilians.”
The walk, which started last Saturday, consists of over 50 four-person teams operating in relay from Kerry to Dublin, with each county's activists taking charge of their section. Every evening, a vigil will be held in the destination town, with Nenagh hosting the petition this Thursday, September 19.
The following day, the first of 4 teams will depart with the petition at noon from Banba Square on their 32km march to Roscrea. There will be handovers at Toomevara and Moneygall before the march reaches Roscrea around 7.15pm that evening. Then, on Saturday morning, WalkThePetition will leave Tipperary as the last team carries it to the Laois border.
From there, the walk will progress to Dublin and crescendo at Molesworth street outside Leinster House next Tuesday, September 24. There, Palestinian advocacy groups from all over Ireland will converge for a rally. It will conclude with the presentation of the petition from the people of Ireland to Senator Black.
The NFOP invites the people of the Nenagh area to assemble in Banba Square this Thursday at 6pm to welcome in the walkers from Killaloe for a vigil of poetry and song and to show their support both for the Occupied Territories Bill and more broadly in solidarity with the people of Palestine.