Older people have answered the call and added their voices to Palestine Action in a wave of demonstrations throughout the UK. Their courageous actions have resulted in dozens of arrests. Participants Chris Romberg, 75, and Deborah Hinton, 81, sing during a sunrise service. Yet during the public comment period, American leaders have been trying to express their concerns for Israeli violence. Their potential arrests would bring attention to a growing movement. Elder members of the diaspora have become fierce fighters against what they view as oppression and injustices committed against the Palestinian people.
Chris Romberg during an Occupy demonstration in London that resulted in his arrest. And like many of us, he is moved to respond to the Gaza violence and rising antisemitism, and feeling despair in doing so. Romberg has a distinguished record of public service. He had two mentions in dispatches during the Falklands War, where he served with the elite commando regiment. His urgency around activism has grown even more as he processes what’s happening in Palestine.
Deborah Hinton, another arrestee, was front and center on the road blockade demonstration July 19 in Cornwall. She soon became known for attending events in her Roman collar, thus signaling her identity as a priest. Hinton articulated her belief that it is imperative for her generation to stand on the frontline of social justice issues. She did all of this out of sincere concern that her younger colleagues would suffer career damage.
Otherwise, they will never receive their visa to travel to the [United] States. They won’t be able to get a visa to travel to almost any other country because they’ll have terrorism listed on their record. Hinton said, expressing concern for young activists.
Hinton’s expression of urgency mirrors the moral imperative she sees in saving the current moment. “What’s going on in Gaza has gone beyond anything that one could possibly have imagined,” she noted. Even though she still has concerns over the tactics used by Palestine Action,… .
“In my view, Palestine Action is not a terrorist organisation… This is not a terrorist organisation, it’s a direct action organisation,” Hinton stated.
Catholic priest John McGowan was arrested at Parliament Square on August 9. This is why he is so passionate about the need to oppose the violence that is perpetrating against Palestinians now. He underscored the moral imperative to raise our voices against what he called an “unfolding massacre.”
“For goodness sake, don’t call these people terrorists because they’re not terrorists,” McGowan urged.
Richard Whitmore-Jones, 74, draws the same conclusion about what’s happening. He does confess to having a hard time with the tactics employed by Palestine Action. Recognizing that vandalism is hard to justify, he understands the need for extreme measures in protest against what is viewed as genocide.
Palestine Action’s tactics are particularly uncomfortable for me. I know it’s hard to believe that charm is the only route forward, Whitmore-Jones remarked. He insists that given the situation, something needs to be done.
Chris Romberg further emphasized increasing distrust from Americans toward government and the ways they’re addressing the crisis. “People are now extremely distrustful of the government,” he stated, reflecting a sentiment shared by many protesters who believe their concerns are not being adequately addressed.
The arrests of Hinton, Romberg, McGowan, Whitmore-Jones, and many others are indicative of a worrying trend. Nearly 800 people have been arrested related to Palestine Action and its direct actions. Surprisingly, though, older generations are the ones storming these barricades in an unprecedented wave of activism. They are more than ever ready to challenge the establishment to protect what they see as the basic human rights.
Deborah Hinton expressed her mindset after being arrested, describing her struggle with the idea of taking part in actions like these. “I knew I couldn’t do that, but it was such a temptation because it was so terrifying,” she admitted.
Perhaps no activist in the world had a greater sense of moral obligation to speak out than Hinton. They know firsthand the very real costs, including criminal prosecution and loss of ability to travel abroad. “I’ve been a very law-abiding citizen and very respectful of authority all my life but I knew I had to do this and it was my duty to do this,” she emphasized.
Older demonstrators are still grappling with their own political beliefs as the heat comes down on the Palestinian question. Together, they provide a stunning glimpse into an ever-changing social climate, showing that the desire to struggle for justice knows no bounds with age.