Dr Husam Zomlot, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the UK speaking at the Big Meeting

That this year's Durham Miners Gala and Big Meeting was remarkable was not just because of the huge numbers - more than 200,000 people took part with tens of thousands attending the Big Meeting - but also because it struck such a note of optimism and determination for the future. In such desolate times for the people in Britain and the world, such defiance and resilience, particularly of the Palestinian people resisting the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, shows that the people's struggles can and will prevail. The theme of this year's Gala was, "We Are Still Here!" This optimistic spirit was precisely what was taken up by Dr Husam Zomlot, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the UK, in his insights and in his remarkable and historic speech to the Big Meeting.

Insightfully, in interviews the Ambassador had said that his favourite thing about Durham was "how history is so important and significant" to the people of the city and beyond. He said that "after all these years, 150 years of a movement, they're still marching, they're still here". It was one of the themes he took up in his speech to the Gala and the Big Meeting. He struck such a chord with the thousands of people there on the racecourse when he said: "Let me say this. We are still there in Palestine and you are still here after all these years in Durham. We are not going anywhere, my friends. We are not going anywhere in our homes and in our land. We carry our history and you carry your history not as a burden but as a torch, a torch lighting our path towards the future, towards freedom, towards justice."

Early in his powerful speech, Dr Zomlot said to huge applause: "I want to recognise Unite the union for their vote yesterday for a full arms embargo on Israel, a ban on trade with the illegal settlements, cutting all ties and all trade that exists with Israel's violation of international law." Then at the end of his speech to further huge applause he referred to the fact that this is the first time the Palestinian Ambassador has spoken on the platform at the Gala. "This tells you that the tide has shifted!"

Indeed the tide has shifted to the criminal actions of those in power and their cartel party system and the oligarchs that run Westminster. The tide has shifted against them because of the continued resistance of the working class and peoples in Britain to the anti-social offensive that Enough Is Enough! The tide has been shifted by the resistance of the working class and people to the attacks on their rights and to the heroic opposition to Britain's support for and arming of Israel in their genocide against the Palestinians. The huge crowd taking part in the Big Meeting was a key part of affirming this central role of the working class in society - past, present and future - and lifting the people in this resistance on this beautiful day in Durham. The banners parade consisted of over one hundred contingents carrying miners lodge banners (64 of them), trade union banners, community and other banners representing the movements of the people, with brass and silver bands (44 of them) and several pipe bands heading the contingents of the workers' movement.

The contingents raised their voices and their instruments, proudly marching past the balcony of the "County" hotel, which was bedecked with the Durham Miners' Association banner and this year's slogan declaring, "We are still here!"

Chaired by Stephen Guy, Chairman of the Durham Miners Association (DMA), the Big Meeting also witnessed powerful speeches made by Jeremy Corbyn, Member of Parliament for Islington North, Sharon Graham, General Secretary, Unite, Eddie Dempsey, General Secretary, RMT, Chris Peace, Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, Matt Wrack, Acting General Secretary, NASUWT, and Alan Mardghum, General Secretary, DMA. There was also a message of solidarity screened from Chris Smalls, co-founder and President of the Amazon union in New York.

Everything about the Gala this year affirmed the necessity for change with the central role being taken by the working class movement as the harbinger of the new in society. Discussions were taking place all over Durham and in towns and communities long into the night and beyond. Hundreds of statements of the call of the northern region of RCPB(ML) were distributed, with discussion on its call that The Working Class Is Back, Still Here, and the Future Is in Our Hands! The statement said: "The state as it is, and the cartel party system in Westminster we are faced with, remain in place with the Labour government. It is significant that no speakers representing the old parties are today on the Big Meeting platform. With Keir Starmer's government now failing in the eyes of every worker, every attempt is being made by the rich and their media to create the illusion that yet another cartel party, such as the Reform party, is an alternative. Reform is yet another cartel party in the hands of the rich. The alternative, the only way forward, as the DMA has pointed out, is for the working class to organise around its values: 'our beliefs in community, in the labour movement and in social justice'."

"But even more than that, the workers must begin to challenge the cartel party system itself by directly electing their own worker politicians in their communities whom they choose and who are answerable to them. This is the path to the democratic renewal of society which empowers the decisions of the workers, the working class movement and their communities, to run society and set the direction for the economy. It is only the working class and people's forces themselves who have the interest in fighting for the general interests of society to solve the problems at home and bring about peace in the world."

The statement concluded that "time is now for the working people to renew and strengthen their organisations fit for the challenges of today, stand firm and speak out in their own name, with their own outlook and programme to build the opposition to paying the rich and their pro-war agenda which wants to consume our youth in imperialist war. It is represented in the Murton banner...with so many youth.." On the day, the Murton contingent didn't disappoint, with hundreds turning out including so many youth marching behind their Murton banner: "The Future Is In Your Hands".

Dr Husam Zomlot, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the UK speaking at the Big Meeting

To mark how important the struggles of the peoples together are, the Durham Miners Gala placed H E Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, centre stage. In his own words, "I learned yesterday that I am the first ever Palestinian to be invited to this platform ... The fact that I'm here, the fact that this is the first time a Palestinian ambassador is invited, tells you the tide has shifted."

Speakers and Big Meeting standing together with the Palestinians and the people of Gaza

Dr Zomlot spoke from the heart when he said, "What energy! It's infectious! Miners, unionists, distinguished friends, Marras! [1] ... I confess to you, my friends, I do sometimes struggle for hope, to see any light in this darkness. But then I see the steadfastness of my people. ... I see you, I see the millions who march for justice in Palestine all over the world, every week, every day. And I find myself speaking to hundreds of thousands of people, along with inspiring leaders like Jeremy Corbyn. ... I tell you, the people of the UK, the British people have turned this country into the epicentre of solidarity and support for Palestine. ... I see your passion, I feel your passion, I hear your chants, I feel your energy, and hope is rekindled. I marched with you earlier today. I see in your eyes our shared humanity. ... Ceasefire Now! ... Our movement is not only about protesting death; our movement is about life."

In writing on the "Palestine in the UK" YouTube site, Dr Zomlot says that "history was made at the 139th Durham Miners' Gala-for the first time, a Palestinian speaker was invited to address the crowd. Before an audience of over 250,000 union members and community leaders, I shared a message that cut beyond party lines: 'This is not about left and right. This is about right and wrong.' My presence wasn't just symbolic-it was a reflection of a growing movement of solidarity, from the heart of working-class Britain to the people of Palestine. This is just the beginning."

For a video of the whole speech, see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV4dZgaHGV0

Note
[1] ''Marra'' is a miners' term of affection for a trusted friend. Marras were generally workmates to whom, quite often, you entrusted your life. Marras are comrades who stick together.