Supporting Palestinian Culture and Raising Awareness of the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza
The Palestinian Society at Leeds Beckett University has embarked on a mission to preserve Palestinian culture and raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Their recent fundraising market is a prime example of their unique approach to advocacy, combining cultural celebration with education and action.
Bilaal, the president of the Palestinian Society, explained that the idea for the market had been in development since last year. However, with limited time to execute the plan, it was postponed until this year under the leadership of the new committee. “The goal was simple: to honor Palestine by preserving and promoting its culture while raising awareness about the oppression happening there,” he shared.
View this post on Instagram
He emphasized the importance of this initiative in addressing an often-overlooked aspect of the Palestinian struggle. “There are protests and marches happening worldwide, which are crucial, but we felt there was a gap when it came to cultural preservation. The occupation forces have tried to erase Palestinian culture, so we thought, why not host a market? It’s a way to celebrate our heritage, fundraise, and educate people at the same time.”
Despite the complexities often associated with such events, Bilaal noted that organizing the market was surprisingly smooth. He credited the positive relationships the society has built with the university and the student union for the lack of obstacles. “We’ve always had good relationships with the university and the student union. They’ve been open to discussion and have supported us as long as we present our ideas clearly and peacefully. For this event, there were no objections.”
The society also worked with Palestinian organizations and social media collectives to promote the market, leveraging platforms like Instagram to attract attention. The result was an impressive turnout, with attendees from diverse backgrounds. “The market was open to everyone,” Bilaal said. “We had students, university staff, and even parents and siblings of students coming by. It was heartwarming to see such a diverse crowd.”
A particularly memorable moment for Bilaal was seeing senior staff, including heads of departments and deans, when held a stall during summer graduation in University (Grads4Gaza) and many senior staff and deans visited our stall and took pictures with he Palestine Flag and engaged with us. This shows that people do support Palestine and there is support within university for justice too. “They took pictures with the Palestinian flags and engaged with us, which was amazing. It’s proof that awareness about Palestine is growing, and support is broader than people might think.”
The event also sent a clear message: supporting Palestine is a matter of justice. “No one students or staff should feel afraid to stand up for what’s right. Universities are supposed to promote human rights and ethical standards. How can they claim to do that while being complicit in injustices elsewhere?” Bilaal remarked.
The society’s choice to focus on peaceful and cultural advocacy has been intentional. Bilaal explained, “We believe in working within the system to create change. Protests are important, but sometimes they can lead to confrontations or disruptions, which some people use to discredit the movement. By keeping our initiatives peaceful and rooted in cultural preservation, we’re showing that we can raise awareness effectively while respecting the university’s policies.”
Education also plays a central role in the society’s mission. Bilaal highlighted the importance of equipping members with the knowledge they need to advocate for Palestine. “Many of our members join because they’re passionate about justice, but they don’t always have the background knowledge to counter misinformation. We want to equip them with the facts and tools they need to advocate for Palestine confidently and effectively.”
He explained that the society is working with external organizations to try bring in speakers who can cover the history of Palestine and the realities of the occupation. “It’s important for our members to understand that the conflict didn’t start on October 7th it’s been ongoing for decades. Education is key to changing narratives and fighting injustice.”
Reflecting on the role of universities, Bilaal called for greater accountability. “Universities have a responsibility to uphold justice and comply with international law. If they claim to support human rights but maintain contracts with companies involved in genocide, that’s pure hypocrisy.”
For Bilaal and the Palestinian Society, this market is just the beginning. With a clear vision and strong determination, they aim to continue growing their efforts to preserve Palestinian culture, raise awareness, and advocate for justice one step at a time.
Read More:
ShortURL ⬇