Bus nearly hits Southampton pro-Palestine protestors

Over a hundred members of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Southampton and Bournemouth Palestine Solidarity Movement (BPSM) joined forces in Guildhall Square today at 12.30pm for a demonstration through the city.

Onlookers applauded and cheered as the groups marched a red cloth - which was almost half a kilometre long - down Above Bar Street and into Southampton city centre.

The march started and ended at Guildhall Square. (Image: Newsquest) Protestors told the Echo that the red fabric shows that the groups are drawing a "red line on what the government is doing", the lack of action taken and the blood shed in Palestine.

READ MORE: Pro-Palestine activists block entrance to Leonardo Southampton

But as the cloth was marched across the junction between Civic Centre Road and Above Bar Street, a shuttle bus heading towards St Mary’s Stadium sped around the corner at a green light and stopped just inches away from protestors in the road.

The red cloth was taken down to the Bargate, where the groups looped and walked back to Guildhall Square. (Image: Newsquest) Representatives from the campaign groups exchanged words with the drivers and reported it to the minimal police presence that flanked the peaceful protest.

Shirley Franklin was one of the most vocal people who marched, explaining that she feels "very very angry, very very strongly" about the conflict due to her own religious beliefs.

Shirley Franklin said her religious beliefs lead her to feel 'very very angry' about the conflict. (Image: Newsquest) “I’m Jewish so I grew up with bias, and I know about the lies that are being told,” she said.

“I find it very difficult to deal with the slaughter, I shouldn’t do but I feel responsible with it as a Jew. It’s an absolute disgrace that people believe the lies being told.”

READ MORE: Pro-Palestine campaigners hold peaceful protest in city centre

Glyn Oliver told the Echo that he was marching to give a voice to the Palestinian people, who he says have "not been given a voice" during the conflict.

Glyn Oliver was one of the many that marched on Saturday afternoon. (Image: Newsquest) “Most discerning people would understand this hasn’t just happened since October 2023, it’s been happening for 70 years,” Glyn explained.

“Israel has been going in to bomb Gaza for no other reason than to mow the lawn.

“The indiscriminate use of force by Israel to destroy a whole culture of land, its agriculture, buildings, people. The deliberate bombing of children, that’s been the most chilling of everything.”

The groups carried the cloth down Above Bar Street and across the junction to Civic Centre Road. (Image: Newsquest) Hampshire police have been asked if further investigations will be taken in regards to the bus incident.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign was one of many groups who gathered in London to march to the US embassy on February 15.

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestine campaigners marched through central London after President Donald Trump suggested the United States could consider taking ownership of the Gaza Strip.

'You can't complain when demonstrations are respectful ' - Southampton residents react

Protestors chanted as they marched the red cloth out of Guildhall Square towards Southampton city centre. (Image: Newsquest) While the majority of Southampton residents clapped and cheered the march as passed down Above Bar Street, the protest was subject to the occasional jeer in the busy city centre.

Shopper Frank Wright was one who watched the demonstration from afar and said that locals "can't complain when demonstrations are respectful."

"Everyone has different views but this is a city that is diverse and I think it's right that people get to demonstrate those views," Frank said.

"There is nothing wrong with a march or a protest if the protest is respectful."

Frank said it was "great to see" so many people protesting about something they feel passionate about, and argued that that element of free speech should "never be given up."

The march had returned to Guildhall Square by 1.20pm, where protestors chanted and congregated.

An anti-racism rally held by Southampton and South West Hampshire Trades Union is set to take place at the Bargate at 10am on March 2.