Vigil in support of Palestinians draws large crowd in St. John's

On Sunday evening, a crowd of more than 100 people gathered on the grounds of the Colonial Building in downtown St. John's fora vigil insupport of Palestinians.

Sobia Shaikh, a community organizer who helped plan the Sunday vigil,said the aim was to counter negative messages about Palestinians.

"We're also here because a lot of people have been reaching out to many of us who are organizers in the community of St. John's about having something that shows our collective pain and collective desire for justice," Shaikh told CBC News.

Planning for the vigil began on Saturday, she said.

WATCH | Vigil for Gaza held in St. John'sdraws more than 100attendees:

Vigil in support of Gaza held in St. John's draws large crowd

1 year ago

Duration 1:24

More than 100 people gathered at the Colonial Building in downtown St. John's for a vigil in support of Palestinians.

Shaikh said there are community members in St. John's who are Palestinian and scared, especially for women and children in Gaza.

She said the event is both a rally and a vigil.

"We really wanted to show Palestinians across the world that we are watching. We are being vigilant. And we want to let our political leaders, Trudeau, governments, know that we're watching this atrocity happening," said Shaikh.

"And very little reaction from the right, the left and also from the federal government. And a really, really small response and it doesn't make sense given how many people are dying."

According to the Israeli government, more than 1,300 Israeli civilians have been killed,and more than 100 hostages were taken in a Hamas surprise attack that took place last week.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israel's response, including a days-long bombardment of the Gaza Strip, has killedmore than 2,200.

Majed Khraishi, who is Palestinian and has been living in St. John's for decades, also took to the steps of the Colonial Building to speak to the crowd.

"We are here to be clear in our support to the people of Gaza What's happening in [Gaza] now is nothing short of attempted genocide," he said.

Another speaker, Reem Abu-Hendi,led the group in chants of"free Palestine."

Abu-Hendi said she was initially scared to come to the vigil and that a lot of Palestinians didn't come because they were traumatized.

"Some of us lost our family back home, so please keep them in your prayers."

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