Thousands of people in Tāmaki Makaurau gathered on the 9th of March 2024 in this time of genocide in Gaza, in the Auckland’s downtown Te Komititanga Square for a rally for Palestine organised by Palestinian Youth Aotearoa.
Aotearoa Liberation Leagues’ Samah Huriwai-Segar was the MC and the mana whenua opening rite was done by Graham Tipene of Ngāti Whātua. We were honoured to hear from speakers who had traveled from Te Tairawhiti, mana wahine Tina Ngata (Ngāti Porou), as well as Te Otāne (Ngāti Kahungungu). Tāmaki Makaurau raised Palestinian young woman Rahaf Gouda with family in Gaza spoke about international womens’ day, as did local Philippino feminist collective Gabriella spokesperson Eugene Velasco. From the Jewish community Palestine solidarity group DAYENU, Yael Shochat gave a stirring speech of support. The Aotearoa Greens’ Chloe Swarbrick laid out the Green Party position on Palestine, which received a haka of support from the audience.
The march was filled with passionate yelling and chanting by a hugely diverse cross section of the public, filling Queen Street and closing the road as we marched up the main street before rounding the block past the Auckland Library and descending back down Queen Steet to Te Komititanga Square.
Unions, Greenpeace, Amnesty Aotearoa, Kia Ora Gaza, Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, Imamia Medics International, Muslim Associations from Auckland, Māori Doctors in Solidarity, International Migrants Alliance and many more organisations were represented in the march for Palestine.
For upcoming events and information see Palestine Youth Aotearoa – https://www.pya.org.nz/
Auckland Peace Action 