On the 31st of December, pro-Palestine protesters in explicit solidarity with the defense of Gaza gathered at City Hall in St Petersburg, Florida. That particular City Hall has passed a number of resolutions supporting Israel’s war and was called out as having done so.

Once marchers got moving, the march started out on sidewalks presumably for defense against car ramming attacks. When the march was just a couple blocks from the festivities, the march took the streets.

As marchers proceeded parallel to the festival area, cops decided to divert the march onto the sidewalk. They pushed the march onto the more easily reached right side sidewalk-and closer to the intended targets. Now there was no need to telegraph intentions by crossing from one sidewalk to the other or even by leaving the streets for the sidewalk. We were already there! A quick right turn, and the whole march was making a noisy pass through the festival.

The ever-popular “while you’re shopping, bombs are dropping” chant was used a lot. Also heard was a special chant supporting the true military solidarity of the Houthi fighters in Yemen, who have declared a sea blockade of Israel and fire on any ship bound for Israel from the Red Sea. Thus an added chant was “Yemen, Yemen, make us proud! Turn another ship around!”

If Gaza can be blockaded, so can Israel.