Categories
Events News

Palestine Rally

We demand a ceasefire NOW! Stop the genocide. We want our local MPs to speak up and represent us. Bring your flags and voices! Let’s make them bigger & louder! London’s march yesterday was incredibly multicultural & diverse, we would love to see more diversity in Reading too!

Sunday 19th November 2023 at 1:30pm in front of M&S on Broad Street, Reading. Please spread the word to all your friends, family, and neighbours! And then EVERY SUNDAY thereafter until we are being heard and the UK takes necessary actions.

Facebook eventhttps://www.facebook.com/events/844170447388385

Join our broadcast channels on https://readingmuslim.uk/whatsapp and/or https://readingmuslim.uk/telegram to stay informed of major local news & events.

Please remember to keep repeatedly mailing your MP. Useful links and actions via: https://readingmuslim.uk/takeaction

Categories
Events News

Palestine Rally

We demand a ceasefire NOW! Stop the genocide. We want our local MPs to speak up and represent us. Bring your flags and voices! Let’s make them bigger & louder! London’s march yesterday was incredibly multicultural & diverse, we would love to see more diversity in Reading too!

Sunday 12th November 2023 at 1:30pm in front of M&S on Broad Street, Reading. Please spread the word to all your friends, family, and neighbours! And then EVERY SUNDAY thereafter until we are being heard and the UK takes necessary actions.

Facebook eventhttps://www.facebook.com/events/844170447388385

Join our broadcast channels on https://readingmuslim.uk/whatsapp and/or https://readingmuslim.uk/telegram to stay informed of major local news & events.

Please remember to keep repeatedly mailing your MP. Useful links and actions via: https://readingmuslim.uk/takeaction

Categories
Events News

National March for Palestine

Ceasefire Now

When: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm on 11/11/2023
Start: Hyde Park, London
End: US Embassy, Vauxhall, London

The route is a 2.8 miles long march, starting from the east side of Park Lane, marching across Vauxhall Bridge to the US Embassy on Nine Elms Lane. It’s normally a 1 hour walk, so we expect this march to take 2-3 hours with the large crowd. The last march had 500,000 people, and the expectation is to have 1,000,000 people marching this Saturday.

Organised by: Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Coach to London & return

Reading Muslim has organised 4 coaches from Thames Valley Park & Ride to go to London, and return after the march. Coach booking link: https://reading-muslim.yapsody.com/event/index/790665/. If it states “Sold out”, then join the reserve waiting list by adding your details on https://forms.gle/AFMgjuJUrP6vJcXE6

The bus journey from TVP to Hyde park is 39 miles (and the march is 3 miles), so unless you’re joining us from further away, you would not be classed as a traveller (over 48 miles) for the purpose of shortening your prayers.

Tickets are £5 each (thanks to a brother for covering the cost of our first 2 coaches, and then many others who have been in touch to contribute further, may Allah reward everyone in abundance, ameen!), and MUST be pre-booked and pre-paid. You will need your QR code to board the coach. You do not need to print it out, but make sure your phone is charged up!

Outbound coach

When: 9am, Sat 11 Nov 2023

Where:
Thames Valley Park & Ride
Thames Valley Park Drive
Earley
Reading RG6 1PT

If you’re parking up at TVP&R please note the slip road from Cemetery Junction is currently closed. You will need to go towards Winnersh, exit, go towards the Showcase roundabout and come back. It’s quite a detour, please be prepared.

We’re expecting our destination, Hyde Park in London, to be quite busy, so leaving at 9am should allow us plenty of time to get there in time and in the right area.

Return coach

When: 5pm, Sat 11 Nov 2023

Where:
EMCA (Mosque & Centre)
283-291 Wandsworth Road
London SW8 2ND

Returning from the EMCA allows people to pray Maghrib there at 4:20pm. There should be space for both brothers and sisters. It’s roughly a 10 minutes walk from the US Embassy, where the march route ends.

Important

  • Please be at the location at least 15 minutes before departure both outbound and inbound, so that we can leave on time!
  • We ask you to join the “London March” group inside our WhatsApp community for updates and instructions, and to be able to communicate with the Reading community marching in London on Sunday: https://readingmuslim.uk/london-march
  • ☝️ We’ll send a location pin drop map in the WhatsApp group, so please make sure you join!
  • Try to not engage with any pro-Israel supporters or hecklers, keep yourself and families safe & look after one another
  • Asr start time will be 1:56pm (1st Mithl) / 2:33pm (2nd Mithl – Hanafi)
  • Maghrib start time will be 4:20pm
  • You will have difficulty getting a phone/data signal on the day because of the overloading of networks due to the large crowds, so please do keep trying, and remember that when your phone signal is weak, your phone will try to boost power usage to get signal, so it will drain more battery
  • It’s worth bringing cash and coins for any food/public toilet usage – remember that most shops will be hard to access due to large crowds, so they will close off their toilets. You may have to walk a bit away from the marching route to be able to find suitable places.
  • We don’t expect to have coaches with toilets, so please make sure you’re feeling fresh before boarding the coach

What to bring with you

  • Palestine flags, placards, clothes
  • Backpack, rucksack
  • Warm clothing, ideally layers, gloves, scarf
    • Check the weather forecast on Saturday morning
    • It is not currently expected to rain, but if it does, then waterproof poncho & umbrella
    • Expecting temperatures between 6-10 °C
  • Comfortable footwear (wudhu socks/khuffs optional)
  • Snacks, drinks, water
  • Lightweight prayer mat (the masajid are likely to be packed, we will likely need to pray outdoors)
  • Recommended: powerbank + cable to charge your phone
  • Any necessary medication

What to do if you need help or are running late

  • Send a message in the “London March” WhatsApp group
  • Call one of the admins in the WhatsApp group
  • You will have difficulty getting a phone/data signal on the day because of the overloading of networks due to the large crowds, so please do keep trying. You may have to leave the more crowded areas to get a better signal.

Advice on arrest bust card

https://greenandblackcross.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/South-East-East-of-England-Oxfordshire-Bustcard-March-2021.pdf

Hopefully this won’t be necessary; but just in case. Always say “no comment” to all questions. Ask the police to contact for your free legal advice:

Kelly’s: 01273 674 898 / 0800 387 463 (out of hours)
HJA (Hodge Jones & Allen): 0808 274 8226

You have the right to have someone informed of your arrest (make that the Protest Support Line unless otherwise arranged: 07946 541 511).

Categories
Events News

Reading Muslim’s Weekly Palestine Rally Takes a Stand for Justice and Humanitarian Action

Reading, UK, 31 October 2023 — Continuing with Reading’s proud history of protest for justice, Reading Muslim organised a powerful Emergency Rally For Palestine, held on Sunday 29th October 2023, through Reading’s town centre on Broad Street. The event, held on a weekly basis going forward, was attended by over 300 people with diverse backgrounds, both Muslims and non-Muslims. It draws attention to the urgent need for humanitarian action and calls for our local MPs and councillors to demand the UK to take a stand against war crimes and injustices.

At the time of publishing, 10,053 people have been killed, of which 3,542 are children, and 28,459 people are estimated to be injured or trapped under rubble, of which 6,360 are children.

The figures have been reported by the Palestinian health ministry, Palestine Red Crescent Society and Israeli Medical Services.

The weekly Palestine Rally serves as a testament to the resilience and unity of Reading’s community. As an ongoing event, it creates a platform for individuals from diverse backgrounds to come together, express their unwavering support for the Palestinian people, and stand up against war crimes. This is intended as a public expression of solidarity, fostering unity and collective action, and rejecting the UK government’s unfettered support for Israel, whatever the cost. UK citizens are loudly and clearly communicating that this cost is egregious, inhumane, and bordering on the territory of genocide.

‘Never again’ should mean exactly that. Never again.

Previous Event Highlights:

Date: Sunday 29th October 2023
Time: 12pm
Location: Broad Street, Reading
Admission: Free and open to the public

Upcoming Events Highlights:

Date: Sunday 5th November 2023, and every Sunday thereafter
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Broad Street, Reading
Admission: Free and open to the public

At each weekly rally, attendees have the opportunity to participate in peaceful demonstrations, listen to inspiring speakers, and engage in activities aimed at deepening their understanding of the Palestinian cause. These gatherings provide an ongoing platform for Reading’s community to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and demand justice.

Imtiaz Chowdhury, Chairman of Reading Muslim, emphasised the importance of the weekly rallies, stating, “The weekly Palestine Rally symbolises our unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and humanity. We, as a community, are determined to make our voices heard and to demand humanitarian action. Our actions are not just in line with the teachings of the Quran, which call for Muslims to stand up for justice, but also our duty as concerned citizens of the world.”

“O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate ˹from justice˺. If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then ˹know that˺ Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.”

[Quran, 4:135]

Reading Muslim’s weekly rallies also provide valuable opportunities to educate the community about the faith of Islam and how it can be a unifying force, bringing people together for a common cause. It is a testament to the power of community and how, together, individuals can create change and raise awareness about pressing global issues.

The organisation encourages all members of the community to join these weekly rallies, learn more about the situation in Palestine, and work together to foster positive change. Reading Muslim looks forward to the involvement of local MPs and councillors in demanding humanitarian actions and standing up for justice.

For additional information about the weekly Palestine Rally and future initiatives, please visit https://readingmuslim.uk or contact [email protected].

About Reading Muslim:

Reading Muslim is a Reading-based community organisation dedicated to promoting dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among the diverse Muslim population in the Reading area. They engage in various social, educational, and charitable activities to contribute positively to the local community. Registered charity number 1061208 in England & Wales.

Media Contact:

Reading Muslim
[email protected]

Categories
Alerts Events News

Palestine Rally

We demand a ceasefire NOW! Stop the genocide. We want our local MPs to speak up and represent us. Bring your flags and voices! Let’s make them bigger & louder!

Sunday 5th November 2023 at 1:30pm in front of M&S on Broad Street, Reading. Please spread the word to all your friends, family, and neighbours! And then EVERY SUNDAY thereafter until we are being heard and the UK takes necessary actions.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/844170447388385

Join our broadcast channels on https://readingmuslim.uk/whatsapp and/or https://readingmuslim.uk/telegram to stay informed of major local news & events.

Please remember to keep repeatedly mailing your MP. Useful links and actions via: https://readingmuslim.uk/takeaction