Retired Anglican priest Reverend Sue Parfitt, aged 84, speaks candidly about her support for Palestine Action, an activist organisation engaged in direct action against weapons manufacturers. Despite physical frailty limiting her own activism, Parfitt frames her endorsement as a meaningful contribution to Palestinian solidarity. She characterises Palestine Action's tactics—damaging weapons production facilities—as a response to what she describes as genocide. Parfitt acknowledges that her vocal support has resulted in her being labelled a terrorist, a characterisation she dismisses. She positions Palestine Action as "the sharp end" of a broader grassroots movement for Palestinian rights in Britain and explicitly calls on others to join the organisation, effectively recruiting supporters despite the legal and reputational consequences she faces.
Key Points
- At 84 years old and in declining health, Parfitt supports Palestine Action as the most meaningful form of activism available to her.
- Parfitt endorses Palestine Action's direct-action tactics, specifically the destruction of weapons manufacturing equipment, framing these acts as responses to genocide.
- Parfitt characterises Palestine Action as the "sharp end" of a larger movement supporting Palestinians in Britain.
- Parfitt openly acknowledges that her support for Palestine Action has resulted in accusations of terrorism and accepts this legal and social risk.
- Parfitt uses her public platform to actively recruit others to join Palestine Action, despite knowing the potential legal and reputational consequences.
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At 84, retired Reverend Sue Parfitt publicly endorses Palestine Action, an organisation that damages weapons manufacturing equipment, and calls on others to join despite legal risks and accusations of extremism.
Summary
Retired Anglican priest Reverend Sue Parfitt, aged 84, speaks candidly about her support for Palestine Action, an activist organisation engaged in direct action against weapons manufacturers. Despite physical frailty limiting her own activism, Parfitt frames her endorsement as a meaningful contribution to Palestinian solidarity. She characterises Palestine Action's tactics—damaging weapons production facilities—as a response to what she describes as genocide. Parfitt acknowledges that her vocal support has resulted in her being labelled a terrorist, a characterisation she dismisses. She positions Palestine Action as "the sharp end" of a broader grassroots movement for Palestinian rights in Britain and explicitly calls on others to join the organisation, effectively recruiting supporters despite the legal and reputational consequences she faces.
Key takeaways
- At 84 years old and in declining health, Parfitt supports Palestine Action as the most meaningful form of activism available to her.
- Parfitt endorses Palestine Action's direct-action tactics, specifically the destruction of weapons manufacturing equipment, framing these acts as responses to genocide.
- Parfitt characterises Palestine Action as the "sharp end" of a larger movement supporting Palestinians in Britain.
- Parfitt openly acknowledges that her support for Palestine Action has resulted in accusations of terrorism and accepts this legal and social risk.
- Parfitt uses her public platform to actively recruit others to join Palestine Action, despite knowing the potential legal and reputational consequences.
Full article
What I Can Do at My Age
What can I do at my age? My frailty means I can do very little. I do what I can to support the Palestinians. The best thing I could do is to support the organization known as Palestine Action, because they have been brave enough to smash up the weapons that are producing the genocide. So I ask you to support Palestine Action. Join me.
Standing with Palestine Action
I'm proud, as always, to be associated with anything supporting Palestine Action, which is the sharp end of the huge movement in support of Palestinians in this country. I do support what they're organizing, and I continue to support it. Apparently that makes me a terrorist. That's okay.
Topics#Palestine Action activism#weapons manufacturing and Palestine#Palestinian solidarity movements (Britain)#direct action and civil disobedience#legal consequences of protest#genocide allegations (Gaza)