Members of the Guyana-Palestine Solidarity Group yesterday picketed outside the National Cultural Centre to send a message of disapproval to visiting US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Linda Thomas-Greenfield. During a recent UN meeting, Thomas-Greenfield was the only one to vote against a resolution demanding an immediate Israeli ceasefire towards Palestine.
In a press statement, the group highlighted that Guyana has consistently supported Palestine since recognising it as a free, independent, and sovereign state in 2011, while the United States has been a long-time supporter of Israel, providing it with significant military and economic aid.
The statement emphasised the devastating impact of the Israeli Defence Force on the Palestinian population, with over 29,000 Palestinians killed since the beginning of the conflict in 2023, and thousands more injured or missing. The group also criticised Israel for blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza and refusing to abide by the International Court of Justice’s ruling to prevent genocide in the region.
Despite Guyana’s continued advocacy for a ceasefire and two-state solution, the US, as a UN Security Council member, has repeatedly vetoed attempts to attain a ceasefire in Gaza, the statement said. The most recent instance was on February 20, when Thomas-Greenfield voted against the resolution for an immediate ceasefire.
The protestors called for an end to the atrocities in Gaza and urged the US to stop supporting Israel’s genocidal actions against the Palestinian people. They also denounced American militarism and involvement in the affairs of sovereign states, emphasising the importance of collaborative action in support of collective liberation from all forms of domination.
Despite being barred by police from venturing too near the NCC yesterday, the protestors were seen hoisting their placards outside the barricades demanding an immediate ceasefire to all Israeli hostilities against Palestinians in Gaza and the entire Occupied Territory. The group accused the US of supporting the Zionist project of Israel, which they believe is responsible for the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The Guyana-Palestine Solidarity Group said it also stands in solidarity with other oppressed communities, such as the Haitian people, who are fighting for self-determination and freedom from external interference in their affairs. The group said it remains committed to fostering regional peace and cohesion, rejecting manipulative tactics that pit neighbour against neighbour.
