A ‘Songs For Ceasefire and Poetry For Peace’ event called for the government to back a ceasefire in Gaza.
The performances at the Red Lion Pub in Shoreditch raised money for Medical Aid For Palestinians and the UNICEF Gaza Appeal.
The event on 15 November coincided with a House of Commons vote against an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
One of the attendees of the event came straight from the protest at parliament and arrived holding a Palestinian flag – they shared news of the vote with the group which was met with disappointment.
Chris Wilson, a folk singer, organised the event where people shared songs and poems on themes of peace and protest.
He explained why he wanted to campaign for a ceasefire: “Songs and community have such a curative influence.
“I think that indiscriminate killing of civilians is completely unacceptable. [If] it’s career suicide to say that you want a ceasefire, it seems like we’ve lost our sense of humanity.”
Laila Sumpton, a poet who read a piece of her work and of others, said: “in a time of such divided and high emotions in response to the Israel-Gaza war, it is important to gather, share thoughts, show solidarity and work out what action we can take as a community.”
Some of the poems read aloud were original works or poems by Palestinian authors such as ‘Exiles’ by Agha Shahid Ali.
Mr Wilson sang two original songs which were accompanied by the harp. The final song he played was called ‘From the River to the Sea’, which was explicitly about Palestinian resistance.
Mr Wilson said the song is “about standing up to colonial power”.
