Saturday 11 July saw another huge turnout at the annual Durham Miners’ Gala.
Many tens of thousands thronged the streets and the old racecourse of Durham, with banners proudly displayed and brass bands playing, amid another chance for people to congregate and show solidarity with each other and with people across the world who are suffering injustices.
As ever there was a multitude of different banners and bands at Durham Miners’ Gala and people from the North East and beyond.
However, as ever the emphasis was on solidarity. There were teachers unions, other trade unionists, and groups supporting a myriad of campaigns.
“The past we inherit, the future we build”
There was deep respect shown for the heritage of mining in County Durham, including the traditional moving performance of Gresford, the miner’s hymn, written by Robert saint, a coal miner from Jarrow.
There were also environmental group activists, showing the way for the North East to become a green energy superpower in the coming decades, just as it had been a famous coalfield area in the past.
As the Durham Miners motto goes: “The past we inherit, the future we build”.
Internationalism at the Gala
And as ever there was a large international element, a great reminder of the internationalism which has long been part of our life here in the North East, ranging from people remembering the genocide at Srebrenica exactly 31 years ago, to international guests including trade unionists from as far away as Australia.
Standing Together
Among the groups attending the gala was the Israeli-Palestinian Standing Together, from the North East United Kingdom Friends of Standing Together (NEUKFoST).
UK Friends of Standing Together is a support network for the Israeli-Palestinian group, which works for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. Their website says, “Standing Together is an Israeli grassroots movement mobilising Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation and for peace, equality, and social justice. Since 7 October, they have become Israel’s leading voice against war and occupation.”
NEUKFoST’s aims by attending the gala were to raise the visibility of North East Friends of Standing Together, hold conversations with different groups to form alliances and support for Standing Together, and encourage the sign-up of members to the group as supporters and activists.
Real solidarity starts with listening and supporting the oppressed, even those from the ‘other side’. Standing Together believes there is no ‘other side’, just fellow humans who are suffering and need support and hence the group’s ability to bring Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs of goodwill together and build a better future for everyone in Israel and Palestine.
As shown in Northern Ireland and in so many other places across the world, it is only when the divides are bridged and people can come together to celebrate their common humanity, that real justice and peace can be built
If that isn’t the true spirit of the Durham Miners’ Gala, then I don’t know what is.
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