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Hastings and District Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Newsletter 28 June 2025
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In this newsletter:
Saturday's information stall
Sunday 29 June - Film show: To Kill a War Machine
Message from Al-Mawasi
Report: Evict General Dynamics
Future local activities during July
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SATURDAY'S INFORMATION STALL
Saturday 28 June 12.00 noon until 2pm Town Centre. Please visit our information stall. All the usual information, petitions, plus keffiyehs, books, badges and Palestine Cola. Plus information on the forthcoming fundraisers for Al-Mawasi.
FILM SHOW: TO KILL A WAR MACHINE
Sunday 29 June 6.30pm. Isabel Blackman Centre, Winding Street TN34 3AT.
The UK government is threatening to 'proscribe' direct action group Palestine Action - to designate it as a terrorist organisation. Which means that even watching a film like this could become illegal if the government decides that it indicates support for this 'terrorist' organisation. Watching this film in a week's time could potentially make you liable for 14 years in prison. Everyone needs to understand the terrifying implications of this abuse of power. See the film, share the film, and demand that every MP votes against the criminalisation of non-violent direct action.
Over a 5 year period, members of direct action group Palestine Action have documented their operations to dismantle companies and infrastructure supplying weapons to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The film makers have combined this cache of footage with narration by the group's founders to follow the explosive growth of one of the world's most effective and confrontational protest groups, and the backlash activists face as they incur the wrath of the British state and the arms companies operating on their soil.
Admission free. Donations welcome for venue costs and for the Palestine Action legal fund. Tickets: Eventbrite.
SIGN THE PETITION - DON'T PROSCRIBE PALESTINE ACTION
This is the PSC petition: "Instead of fulfilling its obligations under international law to prevent genocide, the government is attempting to criminalise people who demand justice for Palestinians."
SIGN THE PETITION HERE
Wednesday 2 July. Take action in your workplace to demand an end to government and corporate complicity in Israel's atrocities, call for a permanent ceasefire and justice for Palestine. Discuss with your colleagues in your branch about what kind of action is best suited to your workplace and its circumstances. Take action in your workplace: More information..
The messages we are receiving from Al-Mawasi grow darker and more desperate every day. As the Israelis shoot unarmed people in cold blood while queueing for food aid, one person told us their "food is tainted by blood"
Anyone who has come on our zoom calls with Al-Mawasi may remember a woman who we met last year who got married at the safe space and how everyone was so happy for her when she announced she was pregnant. She has now given birth and the baby is malnourished, and she has anaemia but they can't find proper food or nutrition for her.
Some of the messages we've just received are here on Facebook and on Instagram. More information about Al-Mawasi on our website.
REPORT: EVICT GENERAL DYNAMICS
Hastings Borough Council owns the leasehold of genocide profiteer General Dynamics' Castleham Road site. But the Council can and should revoke the lease if the terms are broken, such as if the site is 'used (a) for any illegal or immoral purpose.' Well supplying components and equipment to the genocidal army and airforce of Israel is as illegal and immoral as you can get.
Our 'ethical bailiffs' attempted to serve an eviction notice. The management at General Dynamics refused to meet us to take delivery of our notice, but it didn't deter us and we made every effort at every entrance of the building to give them their notice. We don't want genocide profiteers in our town. We will be back.
Sign our online petition to Hastings Council: Evict General Dynamics. Articles in the Hastings Online Times and in the Morning Star. Short video of the event on our Facebook page and on our Instagram page.
 
A FILM BY LUJAIN TAMER MANSOUR: "ring me a thought i can act on"
Saturday 5 July and Sunday 6 July, 11am - 3pm. Unit 2 8-10 London Road, St Leonards on Sea TN37 6AE Unit 2 presents a new film from Palestinian artist Lujain Tamer Mansour. Having recently graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art, Tamer Mansour explores longing, memory and exile in this rich and powerful short film. Free entry - drop in. More information (website) and Instagram.
OH BIG BLUE - AN EXHIBITION OF POETRY AND ART BY PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
9 - 12 July 10am - 4pm, Stade Hall Facebook event page.
"AN ANTIDOTE TO THE POISONS OF THIS WORLD." OH BIG BLUE POETRY EXHIBITION IN THE NEWS
We are delighted that our upcoming exhibition is getting some great coverage in the press, including in Rye News, Sussex World and Skwawkbox.
Don't forget to book your place for the launch event at 6pm on Wednesday 9th July with renowned British poet Alice Oswald and an exclusive performance of a selection of the poems by local children. The event is free and open to all. Copies of the book will be available to buy on the night.
Written last year by children ages 9-17 from all over Palestine including Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, Nablus, Jerusalem and Gaza, the collection of illustrated poems comes directly from the hearts and minds of Palestinian children growing up in a time of genocide and apartheid. They stand as a testament to courage, hope, resilience, and love. The free exhibition will be open daily 10am-4pm from 9th-12th July inclusive. To find out more.
THE ENCAMPMENTS: FILM SCREENING AND Q&A FUNDRAISER FOR AL MAWASI
Thursday 10 July 6:30pm, Stade Hall FB event page. Ticket details.
Don't miss the chance to see the Hastings premiere of THE ENCAMPMENTS, the powerful new documentary following the Palestine solidarity protests that erupted across university campuses in 2024. Timely, urgent and filled with a clear-eyed fury, THE ENCAMPMENTS is a rallying cry for those who refuse to be silenced and a message of hope for the people of Palestine.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with UK student encampment organisers and is taking place in Stade Hall, where visitors can also view the Oh Big Blue exhibition of poetry and art by Palestinian children. It is a fundraiser for Al Mawasi with tickets priced £10/£8 concessions.
Saturday 12 July 12.00 noon - 6pm. Warrior Square Gardens. We will as usual have a stall at the festival. Please come and visit. More information.
WALK THE SEAFRONT: FUNDRAISER FOR AL-MAWASI
Sunday 20 July 10.45am. The Stade. Join us on this fundraiser for Al-Mawasi. Please share with family and friends and help make this event a success for the community in Al Mawasi. If you are unable to join us for the walk, feel free to come down and show your support as we set off. Pick up a sponsorship form at one of our information stalls, at any of our events, or email. Or just turn up on the day.
PALESTINE - ISRAEL: FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Much of the 'information' in the corporate media is misleading. Here are some useful sources:
Middle East Eye. Electronic Intifada. Al Jazeera. Middle East Monitor.
Mondoweiss. Palestine Chronicle. Al Mayadeen. Mintpress. The Grayzone.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. Jonathan Cook.
The Cradle. MediaLens. Declassified UK. The Hind Rajab Foundation.
Rania Khalek.
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Hastings and District PSC online membership and donations
Becoming a member of Hastings and District PSC is an important way of supporting our work.The annual subscription is £10 waged, £5 unwaged. We now have an online membership payment form. It can also be used to renew membership. If you would rather not use Paypal, you can pay directly to our bank: please contact us for the details. Or alternatively pay at one of our events.
The work of Hastings and District PSC could not continue without the donations from members of the public. If you would like to support our work without becoming a member please visit our shop page here and see the right hand column:
Donate to Hastings and District PSC.
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Recent Hastings and District PSC newsletters:
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