Palestine protestors call for boycott outside Barclays Blackburn

A group of about 40 people were directly outside the bank on Darwen Street as part of the ongoing protests against the bank, yesterday (Saturday).

The protest was one of many taking place at Barclays sites in the region and nationwide, including Manchester. Similar protests have taken place in Bolton, Preston, Rochdale, Oldham and Preston in recent weeks.

People could heard shouting ‘Shame shame shame on you’, whilst a large banner read: ‘Palestinian blood on Barclays hands’ was unfurled.

Protestors said Barclays 'provides more than £3 billion in loans and underwriting to companies whose weapons, components, and military technology have been used in Israel’s armed violence against Palestinians'.

The protest took place just days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded that Israel try to contain death and damage in its military offensive.
 Crucially, the court refused to throw out the case put forward by South Africa.
Barclays and weapons companies have been at the centre of series of major protests.

The protest came on the day when it was revealed the branch would close in May.

A member of the Blackburn For Palestine group said: "We want people to know that boycotts do work and you can make a difference.

“Companies and organisations who are complicit in the ongoing murder of innocent people will be targeted.”

The protest came on the day when it was revealed the branch would close in May.

On October 7, Hamas carried out an attack in Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hostages. Since then Israel has killed 25,000, according to the Gaza health ministry, and injured more than 50,000, many of them women and children.

Many pro-Palestine supporters also claim Israel has killed and kidnapped thousands after in the 'occupied lands' over a 75-year period.