News / protest
Bristol protester jumps barriers at London Marathon
A Bristol-based protester was one of two people to jump barriers at the London Marathon, calling for a trade embargo on Israel.
Willow Holland from Bristol was the first to jump over the barriers placed on Tower Bridge, before he was joined by Nottingham-based Cristy North. Both went on to throw red paint powder, moments before runners approached the spot.
The security team swiftly pulled Holland and North to the sides, thereby allowing runners to pass smoothly.
Both Holland and North were part of Youth Demand, a group of young people protesting against trade with Israel and the mounting damages caused by fossil fuel burning.
18-year-old Holland said he had “run out of options” shortly before he jumped the barriers.
“I am taking action with Youth Demand because I have run out of other options: thousands are being killed in Gaza, our government is making no effort to stop it, and no other course of action, marches or rallies, has worked.
“I refuse to be complicit in a genocide funded by our politicians.
“Profit should never be prioritised over basic decency. We’re taking action for human lives and human rights.
“We don’t want blood on our hands. We need more people in resistance, refusing to be complicit whilst upholding international law, now more than ever.”
He also urged other young people to join them in their resistance.
Youth Demand added that City of London police went on to arrest Holland and North shortly after the incident.
A spokesperson for the group said: “This is a race against time: Gaza is running out of food. Millions of starving Palestinians are being bomed with UK complicity. By continuing to arm Israel, Starmer has crossed the line from genocidal denial to genocidal complicity.
“We can’t allow politicians to run away from accountability for their war crimes. History will judge all the bystanders that cheered on this monstrous crime.”
Main photo|: Youth Demand
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