Gaza solidarity protest 14 October 2023 - And so it begins...

My name is Kate Ramsden and I’m a member of Aberdeen Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. I have the privilege of chairing this event today.

Welcome to this Call to Action in solidarity with the people of Palestine and specifically the people of Gaza, under such terrible attacks from the state of Israel with the loss of so many lives, many of them children

This is not the first time we have gathered in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Gaza

Over many many years, the people of the North East of Scotland have come together to bear witness to the ongoing oppression, killings, occupation and state terrorism by the government of Israel and to give Palestinians a voice

Because the events of last weekend, tragic though they are, have not come out of nowhere. The killing of innocent civilians has been going on for many years – only those innocents have been Palestinian.

There has been a silent slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children by the state of Israel since the Nakba but growing in intensity over recent years

The people of Palestine have been oppressed and yes, terrorised by Israel, with home invasions, the taking of Palestinian land, restrictions on work and travel, the imprisonment of their people, including their children, the siege of Gaza, frequent bombardments and the killing of civilians.

Even before the terrible bombardments of this past week, this had been the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2014.

This oppression has been supported and also masked by Western governments including our own, who bear massive responsibility for it. Our government has continued to sell arms to Israel and has totally failed to call them out for their oppression of the people of Palestine.

One of the most grievous things about the situation today is how the media and politicians describe the tragic killings of Israeli civilians and children, when they have been all but completely silent on the murders of Palestinian civilians and children by the Israeli army and Police and through settler violence.

There are huge double standards at work here and there always were

That is why it is so important for us to come together here today to give Palestinians, to give Gazans a voice.

Gaza Solidarity Protests Aberdeen Introduction

As an active member of Scottish Palestine Solidarity, Aberdeen I've been actively involved in organising and often chairing the Gaza Solidarity protests, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide, as Israel responded to attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023 with its terrible and indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza, killing more and more civilians and children each passing day, whilst the world has looked on.

My introductory comments to these protests have become an  account of the carnage in Gaza week on week, as the world has looked on and failed to end Israel's massacre of the population through air assaults and their collective punishment of withholding food, water, medicines and fuel. They have referenced Israel's war crimes in real time, and the dismal failure of our Westminster government and the Labour leadership to call for a ceasefire, instead greenlighting Israel's war crimes.

I've decided to publish them on this blog, in part to archive them for myself, and in part to keep this account live for as long as the carnage in Gaza continues, and as an account for posterity when the day comes, as surely it must, when this is over. It may end but it must never be forgotten.

We must stand together against racism, fascism and attempts to divide us

In her speech to the St Andrew's Day Rally, Kate Ramsden, UNISON highlights the importance of fighting racism and inequality and calls for support for UNISON's Year of Black Workers in 2023.

Greetings from UNISON Scotland and thanks so much for inviting me to speak here today.

I’m pleased to bring solidarity from my union to this St Andrew’s day rally.

Because it is so important to be constantly vigilant in the fight against racism and fascism.

And especially now, coming out of COVID and with a cost of living crisis – which is really a cost of greed crisis - when it is all too easy to demonise and blame certain groups – like migrant workers, benefits claimants, disabled people, older people and single parents.

The last couple of years have presented significant challenges for all workers.

COVID impacted on both our personal and professional lives, with many of us losing colleagues and loved ones whilst struggling to deliver services.

 All workers have experienced below inflation pay rises while prices soared. Public services continue to be underfunded and understaffed.

 Our Black colleagues have faced all of these challenges but also have to fight racism on a daily basis.

 Scotland is not immune to that sadly. But it is not just the overt racism that blights lives.

Aberdeen gathers in solidarity with the people of Gaza and mourns the killing of innocents

I attended and spoke at a protest and vigil for Gaza in Aberdeen on Saturday 13 August, to call on our governments and the international community to condemn Israel's latest bombardment of Gaza and to mourn the lives lost including 16 children. 

You can see what I said below. I have put the link to the SPSC statement which has links to petitions and letters to politicians. please go on and  sign and send these.

"Kate Ramsden, speaking on behalf of SPSC Aberdeen.

We are here once again to protest Israel’s bombing of Gaza.

Ordinary people, compassionate people, doing what Western governments have failed to do. Stand against Israel’s apartheid and oppression of the Palestinian people and demand an end to it.

Come along to SPSC's online event and find out how you can support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

ATUC is supporting a series of events organised by Scottish Palestine Solidaroty Campaign (SPSC) Aberdeen, focused on Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS). 

We are urging all our delegates, associates, family and friends to get along to the first event on Zoom on Thursday 27th October 2021 from 6.30-8pm. 

You can find out more by clicking HERE And you can register on Eventbrite HERE

The series will explore the divestment campaign against Caterpillar (via HSBC) and Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes, IHRA (Right to BDS), Puma and sport apartheid.

The first event is the re-launch of our divestment campaign against Caterpillar (via HSBC) and Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes.

Huge rally in Aberdeen tells the world #Palestinian Lives Matter

I was very proud to chair the second Aberdeen rally on 23rd May in support of freedom and justice for the people of Palestine and to call for an end to the oppression, occupation and apartheid policies of the Israeli government and an end to the siege of Gaza.

There were around 400 people there and we made a colourful and noisy sight as we walked in groups of 20 from the mosque on Nelson Street to Marischal Square. 

There we heard stirring calls to action from Imam Ibrahim, Dr Sanaa, Jonathan Russell from CND and Imam Molana Ghulam Hurr Shabbiri, who travelled from Glasgow to be a part of our rally.

It was most inspiring to hear from a number of younger people, reflecting the young people leading the unity action across Palestine. Eleven year old Mustafa was moved to read a poem called "Gaza's Child" after he learned about the impact of the occupation on Palestinian children.

Mariam, a student from Egypt narrated a story she had made up - an analogy to explain the background to the situation in Palestine. Rema Harbi, a student teacher beautifully sang "Mawal" an Arabic poem speaking of love for Palestine and the grief felt at the innocent Palestinians killed. Then Yasmine Benaissa, another student and member of our organising group issued a call to arms, echoing the warning that the ceasefire in Gaza did not mean that the struggle was over.

Another young person, Kareem, from Palestine asked to speak to thank all those in attendance for coming out to support his people and his country.

Here is my introduction.  

Standing together for equality on International Women's Day and every other

Here is my speech for International Women's Day 2020 in Aberdeen, for anyone interested to read it in full.

A bit prophetic if I say so myself, as we see the key importance of women's jobs in the current Covid-19 crisis.

"Kate Ramsden delighted to be speaking here on International Women’s Day on behalf of UNISON.

Because around three quarters of our members are women, many of them in low paid roles

50 years on from the Equal Pay Act the gender pay gap is still with us

The gap between the pay of men and women stands at almost 12% rising to a whopping 38% in the entertainment industry.

So why is that? Of course there are situations where men are just paid more than women even when they do the same job. Samira Ahmed is proof of that.

That’s illegal and it’s wrong. And if you can afford it, it’s challengeable in court

But mainly it’s because most of the jobs that women do are just not valued.

Yet they are amongst the most important roles in our society – roles we just couldn’t do without