Protesters hit out at McDonald’s for ‘profiting’ off war on Palestine
Demonstrators took to the high street in a rolling picket on Saturday to protest against the businesses and institutions they say are making profits from Israel’s war on Palestine.
Activists from the South London branch of Fight Racism Fight Imperialism (FRFI) and the Revolutionary Communist Group met alongside residents at Windrush Square in Brixton, before setting up pickets outside high street businesses like McDonald’s to highlight the corporation’s support of Israel during its conflict with Palestine.
A spokesman from FRFI South London said: “High street businesses such as McDonald’s profit from selling products produced on Palestinian land stolen by Israel, and banks such as HSBC and Barclays fund the arms companies that murder Palestinian children.”
Protesters called for a boycott of the companies and Israeli goods in general, as part of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
After the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the following retaliatory bombardment of Palestine by the Israeli Government, McDonald’s Israel said it had given away thousands of free meals to members of the Israeli military.
The move sparked the BDS to call for a boycott of the brand last month. McDonald’s chief executive, Chris Kempczinski, blamed the backlash on “misinformation”.
Protesters also hit out at their Labour-run council for “refusing to do the minimum” of calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Lambeth council voted against a motion brought by the Green Party calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at a meeting on January 24. In a statement the council said the motion “set a false narrative that Lambeth council – a civic institution – has the power or influence to affect an international conflict”.
It continued: “The Labour Party has called for a humanitarian truce now.”
Pictured top: Activists outside McDonald’s in Brixton calling for a boycott of companies which profit off Israel and Israeli goods in general (Picture: FRFI South London)
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