Thanks to the 300 people who have signed our open letter. Please keep sharing it and encouraging more people to sign.

You are also invited to join us at the weekly candlelit vigil for Gaza and Israel every Friday 6-6.15pm outside local MP Siobhan Baillie’s office, 3 King St, GL5 3BS.

Yours sincerely,

The Stroud Ceasefire Now coalition

(Community Solidarity Stroud District, Stroud District Together With Refugees, Stroud Against Racism, Palestine Solidarity Campaign - Five Valleys Branch)

Thank you each and every person who has signed our declaration. Our aim is to persuade "ALL political parties and politicians locally to support the worldwide calls for a ceasefire". Below we list our progress towards this goal - the follow parties and politicians have signed:

• Stroud District Green Party

A total of 21 of the 52 Stroud District Councillors (SDC), these are:

• Leader of SDC, Catherine Braun (Green Party, Wotton-under-Edge)

• Deputy Leader of SDC, Natalie Bennett (Independent Left Group, Nailsworth)

• Chair of SDC, Doina Cornell (Community Independents, Dursley)

and other district councillors in alphabetical order:

• Chloe Turner (Green Party, Minchinhampton)

• Chris Brine (Independent, Stonehouse)

• Christopher Jockel (Green Party, Chalford)

• Colin Fryer (Community Independents, Cam West)

• Gary Luff (Green Party, Painswick and Upton)

• Helen Fenton (Independent Left Group, Chalford)

• Jessie Hoskin (Independent Left Group, Cainscross)

• Jonathan Edmunds (Green Party, Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe)

• Kate Crews (Green Party, Stroud Central)

• Laurie Davies (Independent, Stroud Slade)

• Martin Baxendale (Green Party, Stroud Valley)

• Martin Brown (Green Party, Bisley)

• Mattie Ross (Independent Left Group, Stonehouse)

• Paula Baker (Independent Left Group, Stroud Uplands)

• Rebecca Aldam (Green Party, Thrupp)

• Robin Layfield (Community Independents, Rodborough)

• Stephen Hynd (Green Party, The Stanleys)

• Trevor Hall (Community Independents, Dursley)

1 of 10 County Councillors representing the Stroud area:

• Chloe Turner (Green Party, Stroud: Minchinhampton)

2 of 15 Stroud Town Councillors

• Kevin Cranston

• Laurie Davies

We have also contacted Siobhan Baillie MP, Simon Opher PPC for the Labour Party, and Pete Kennedy PPC for the Green Party. None have signed as of 7th November 2023.

Please continue to share the open letter and encourage friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to sign, and to attend our weekly candlelit vigil for Gaza and Israel every Friday 6-6.15pm outside local MP Siobhan Baillie’s office, 3 King St, GL5 3BS. Thank you.

Thank you for signing the Stroud Ceasefire Now Declaration. Please join us this Friday 24th November at 6pm for another vigil. Below are further details about the vigil and at the end an updated list of the politicians who have signed our declaration and the groups who have joined the coalition.

FOR THE CHILDREN - Stroud has held five vigils since the appalling Hamas attack on October 7 and the ongoing destruction of Gaza, calling for a total ceasefire and an end to all the killing.

TIME FOR A FULL CEASEFIRE

We welcome today's news of a 4-day temporary ceasefire and the release of 50 hostages. This clearly demonstrates that a negotiated FULL CEASEFIRE is possible

WAR CONTINUES

We note that in an official statement: "The Government of Israel, the IDF and the security services will continue the war in order to return home all of the hostages, complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza."

INNOCENT LIVES

According to the Norwegian Newspaper Verdans Gang, 5 year olds make up the largest group of those killed in Gaza over the last month.

WE REMEMBER

This Friday, we gather to hold a vigil to remember all the children affected by this conflict. Those who continue to be held captive along with those who have been killed, injured, lost, maimed and repeatedly traumatised by the relentless bombing of Gaza.

PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW

Our vigils call on our government to increase the pressure internationally for a PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, the release of all captives, an end to the seige of Gaza and a real commitment towards a peace process in the region.

---

Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition is made up of Stroud Against Racism, Stroud District Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Community Solidarity Stroud District, Stroud District Together With Refugees, Nailsworth Quakers, the RYSE and SISTER.

Thank you each and every person who has signed our declaration. Our aim is to persuade "ALL political parties and politicians locally to support the worldwide calls for a ceasefire". Below we list the parties and politicians that have signed:

Parties or political groupings of elected representatives:

Stroud District Green Party

Stroud District Community Independents

The group of Independent Left councillors on Stroud District Council

MPs or Parliamentary candidates:

Pete Kennedy - Parliamentary Candidate for Stroud, Green Party

2 of 10 County Councillors representing the Stroud area:

Cllr Chloe Turner (Green Party, Stroud: Minchinhampton)

Cllr Nick Housden (Independent Conservative, Stroud: Stonehouse)

A total of 25 of the 51 Stroud District Councillors (SDC):

• Leader of SDC, Catherine Braun (Green Party, Wotton-under-Edge)

• Deputy Leader of SDC, Natalie Bennett (Independent Left Group, Nailsworth)

• Chair of SDC, Cllrdoinacornell (Community Independents, Dursley)

• Vice-Chair of SDC, Norman Kay (Green Party, Nailsworth)

and other district councillors in alphabetical order:

• Chloe Turner (Green Party, Minchinhampton)

• Chris Brine (Independent, Stonehouse)

• Chris Jockel (Green Party, Chalford)

• Cllr Colin Fryer - Cam West Ward, Stroud District Council (Community Independents)

• Gary Luff (Green Party, Painswick and Upton)

• Helen Fenton (Independent Left Group, Chalford)

• Cllr Jessie Hoskin - Cainscross, Stroud District Council (Independent Left Group)

• Jonathan Edmunds (Green Party, Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe)

• Kate Crews (Green Party, Stroud Central)

• Cllr Laurie Davies - Slade Ward, Stroud District Council (Independent, Stroud Slade)

• Lucas Schoemaker (Green Party, Stroud Trinity)

• Martin Baxendale (Green Party, Stroud Valley)

• Martin Brown (Green Party, Bisley)

• Mattie Ross (Independent Left Group, Stonehouse)

• Nick Housden (Independent Conservative (Stonehouse)

• Paula Baker (Independent Left Group, Stroud Uplands)

• Rebecca Aldam (Green Party, Thrupp)

• Cllr Robin Layfield - Rodborough, Stroud District Council (Community Independents)

• Rich Wilsher (Liberal Democrats, Kingswood)

• Stephen Hynd (Green Party, The Stanleys)

• Trevor Hall (Community Independents, Dursley)

7 of 15 Stroud Town Councillors

• Adrian Oldman

• Kevin Cranston

• Laurie Davies

• Louisa Stinton

• Lucas Schoemaker

• Rob Green

• Sue Fenton

We have also contacted MP for Stroud Siobhan Baillie and Simon Opher for Stroud - Parliamentary Candidate for the Labour Party. Neither have signed as of 8th November 2023, though Simon Opher has attended vigils.

Please continue to share the open letter (link in comments) and encourage friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to sign, and to attend our weekly candlelit vigil for Gaza and Israel every Friday 6-6.15pm outside local MP Siobhan Baillie’s office, 3 King St, GL5 3BS. Thank you.

Tonight's vigil from 6-6.15pm outside Siobhan Baillie's office on King St will coincide with a Global Solidarity Vigil - as Na'amod, a movement of Jews in the UK seeking to end our community's support for Israel's occupation and apartheid, say about their events in London and Brighton, they are "joining a call to global action by activists in Jerusalem, where any public expression of solidarity with Palestinians risks hostile reprisals and repression."

As well as our vigil tonight, Friday 22nd December, here are some dates for your diary:

Tomorrow, Saturday 23rd December there will be a Free Palestine Rally outside Siobhan Baillie's office on King St with speeches. The Rally is not organised by us, but by Asher and Ameer Courts, local Horsley residents. They have travelled repeatedly in Palestine over the last decade visiting family. They gave an account of these journeys at the SVA on the 10th Nov (watch a video at: https://youtu.be/K9PeVkdABiQ)..)

On Saturday 6th January 2024 there will be a Gaza Solidarity Bike Ride from Stroud to Brimscombe and back (or join from Brimscombe). The ride will be a fundraiser for the Gaza Sunbirds para-cycling team's emergency appeal. The ride is organised by the Cargo Bikes of Stroud group - for more information go to their website: stroudcargobikes.org/events

On Saturday 13th January 2024 there is a global day of action "Ceasefire Now, Stop the war on Gaza". There will be a national demonstration in London (starting at 12noon). The Stroud District branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be organising coaches - we will share details ASAP, but please also see their Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553864187957

Please also follow the Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552697702924...

Finally, we have a new member of our coalition: Stroud Parents & Makers for Palestine.

If any other organisations would like to sign up to the demands and get involved in organising, please email: stroudceasefirenow@gmail.com

In this update we present details of an event today Saturday 30th December, next week Saturday 6th January, and the following week Saturday 13th January - which has been called as a global day of action - with coach transport to a march in London available - please read on for details. Alongside these events we will be continuing with weekly vigils every Friday from 6-6.15pm outside Siobhan Baillie’s office.

Firstly, apologies for the very short notice (we may not reach many of you till after the event), but from 12-1pm today Saturday 30th there will be a "Naming the Dead" action outside Siobhan Baillie’s office, following on from a reading of names of children who have been killed which began at last night's vigil. Todays event is not organised by us as a coalition but by some local young people, one of whom is involved in a coalition member group - The Radical Youth Space for Educations (or RYSE). They say today's event "will be a time for reflection, so if anyone would like to read any poetry or words that they feel offer an insight into how they are feeling let the RYSE know and you will be more than welcome to speak." (theryse@riseup.net, instagram.com/the.r.y.s.e facebook.com/theradicalyouthspaceforeducations)..) The event follows a recent rally led by young people covered by Stroud Times: stroudtimes.com/pictures-young-people-stage-rally-...

Next Saturday 6th January there are two relevant events:

A "Gaza Solidarity [Bike] Ride" inspired by the Big Ride For Palestine events and raising funds for the Gaza Sunbirds para-cycling team's emeregency aid appeal. The event will involve a bike ride from Stroud to Brimscombe and back (or just from Brimscombe to Stroud) between 10am and 11.30am. Full details at: stroudcargobikes.org/events

"Ceasefire Now - March With Us For Palestine" in Gloucester, meeting at 1pm at Kings Square GL1 1RP (organised by Gloucestershire Palestine Solidarity Campaign). More details on Facebook: facebook.com/events/383596964129443

Saturday 13th January 2024 will be a Global Day of Action "Ceasefire Now - Stop the War on Gaza", with a national march in London organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Details at: palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-pa...

Coach transport is available from Stroud to the march in London, organised by the Stroud District branch of Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Tickets are £28 online via eventbrite.co.uk/e/global-day-of-action-coach-book...

"We have organised a coach to London (leaving 8.15am) so that everyone who wants to be there for the global day of action calling for a CEASEFIRE NOW on JANUARY 13 can go.

8am - Pick up at STRATFORD PARK LEISURE CENTRE

5pm - Collection Central London (tbc)

More information will be made available on the coach."

Invite friends and share on Facebook at: facebook.com/events/752928620075713

For more regular updates please see our Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552697702924, where we recently shared:

The story of 18-year-old Tal Mitnick from Tel Aviv who - on Tuesday, Dec. 26 - became the first Israeli to refuse mandatory military service since Israel launched its assault on the besieged Gaza Strip more than 80 days ago, sentenced to 30 days in military prison as a result. He said "My refusal is an attempt to influence Israeli society and to avoid taking part in the occupation and the massacre happening in Gaza. I’m trying to say that it’s not in my name. I express solidarity with the innocent in Gaza. I know they want to live; they don’t deserve to be made refugees for the second time in their lives.” Read more: 972mag.com/tal-mitnick-conscientious-objector-isra...

We also shared a post from Jewish Voice for Peace, who reported that on December 22nd, "in the first event of its kind since the bombardment of Gaza started, hundreds of Israeli mourners assembled in Jerusalem in protest outside of the U.S. Embassy. They gathered to mourn Palestinians killed in Gaza and to demand an immediate ceasefire. The vigil included a recorded message from a Palestinian who fled Gaza, written memorials about those who have been killed, poetry, and music by a Palestinian who was killed." See their full post about this event at: facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02EdXL4...

Thanks for reading.

Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition launched our open letter with 4 demands in October 2023 (signed by you and 520 other people). Since then, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed (at least) and ceasefire negotiations have repeatedly broken down. There have also been developments with regard to international law. As a result we are launching a new open letter - this time using a different platform which will enable us to collect email addresses and better communicate with those who support these demands. See below for the new demands, and sign at: tinyurl.com/CeasefireStroud.

Below the demands and announcements about some upcoming events featuring members of the Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition.

• Immediate Ceasefire on all sides

• Stop Arming Israel

• Release of all people held hostage - whether Israeli or Palestinian

• End the blockade preventing civilians in Gaza from accessing food, fuel and water

• Begin a process for real and lasting peace for Palestinian and Israeli people

• Recognise the State of Palestine

• Back the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) Judgement on the illegality of Israel’s occupation, the ICJ's jurisdication on the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the Arrest Warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli and Hamas leaders

Sign at: tinyurl.com/CeasefireStroud.

Events:

Every Friday: Ceasefire Vigil - outside the Sub Rooms, 6-6.15pm

This Friday 6th September at the Stroud Hotel from 7pm: Palestine - where do we go from here and what can we do in the UK, organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign - Stroud District with speaker Diana Safieh, Writer and Events Manager for the Balfour Project. Drinks available from 7pm. Talk starts.at 7:30pm (see: https://www.facebook.com/StroudPSC/events/)

This Saturday 7th September: Coach to National March for a Ceasefire organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign - Stroud District, leaving 8am from Stratford Park. Tickets £35 - buy at: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2cOkgBf96wcaA8wx

This Thursday 5th September - Friday 27th September: various workshops hosted by Mutiny Stroud for 13-25 year olds including "Direct Action and Theories of Change", "Imperialism - how does it relate to us" and, for people aged over 25 "How to be a good older"

This Sunday 8th September 12-8pm: Stroud Love Music Hate Racism summer party at the SVA Goods Shed, with stalls from Palestine Solidarity Campaign Stroud District, Stroud Against Racism, Community Solidarity Stroud District and others (see: https://www.facebook.com/events/9386478864712195)

Tuesday 17th September, 7pm at Stroud Brewery Tap Room: "Israelism" Film screening by Na'amod Gloucestershire and PSC - Stroud Disctrict. The film explores how Jewish attitudes towards towards Israel.are changing dramatically with massive consequences for the region and Judaism. Q&A afterwards (see: https://www.facebook.com/events/493542866739736)

We will not be using this update system to send further updates, but please sign the new open letter to receive future - more regular - updates from the Stroud Ceasefire Now Coalition: tinyurl.com/CeasefireStroud.

‼️Emergency Protest 6-6.30PM this evening - outside Siobhan Baillie’s office‼️

Very last minute following the news of the ground invasion and bombing of Rafah.

More than 1.2 million Palestinians - forced to flee Israel's relentless bombing and siege in other areas of Gaza, are sheltering in Rafah in dire conditions.

Palestinians are calling for urgent mobilizations worldwide. Protests are also taking place inside Israel calling for an end to the war on Gaza.

Please pass on around any networks you have ASAP and come along even if only for ten minutes ❤️

Please share our graphic and invite friends on Facebook at: facebook.com/events/728931785979783/?post_id=72893...