Derry City & Strabane District Council to light civic buildings up in Palestine colours

During November’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee meeting, People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin proposed that the buildings be lit up in Palestinian colours during International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on November 29.

While speaking on the motion, Councillor Harkin also welcomed Belfast City Council’s decision to join council in calling for the Education Minister, Paul Givan, to resign following a recent, department-publicised trip to an Israeli school.

“I want to welcome as well that more than 30 MLAs in Stormont have signed a petition, which will allow a debate calling for the minister to resign,” he added.

“Whether or not the Minister chooses to resign… may be out of our control, but I think it’s very important that people send the loudest possible message about their anger and disbelief about what the minister has done.”

SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid said Belfast City Council’s motion “showed real strength… with the support that they’ve shown to the Palestinian people”.

She added: “I was happy to see that there seems to be cross-party support for the petition of concern.

“We need to continue to show solidarity and I think lighting up in the Palestinian colours is a nice gesture.

“It is a gesture, but I think gestures are as important as actions at this time.”

Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy endorsed the proposed lighting of buildings and welcomed both Belfast City Council and the Assembly’s motions.

Councillor Duffy concluded: “I think that the Minister’s defence of his position, through media channels, over recent days has been nothing short of shocking.

“I think that any small gesture that we can make as a council, we should be making it.”