Thousands Rally in Chennai to Stand in Solidarity with Palestine

On Friday, thousands of people gathered in Chennai for a massive rally organized by the Periyar Followers Federation to protest Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which they described as genocidal. The event saw participation from various political parties, social organizations, and Muslim groups across Tamil Nadu.

Prominent leaders and personalities included:

• Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK leader and MP)
• Thaniyarasu (MLA)
• Jawahirullah (Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader and MLA)

• Thirumurugan Gandhi (May 17 Movement coordinator)
• Renowned actors Sathyaraj and Prakash Raj
• Filmmaker Vetri Maaran

Key speeches and highlights:

• Actor Prakash Raj emphasized the moral duty to speak against injustice, criticizing the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States. He recited powerful poems reflecting the human cost of war, urging continuous protest and awareness.
• Actor Sathyaraj condemned attacks on civilians and called for international intervention, drawing parallels to the Tamil struggle for freedom and justice.
• Filmmaker Vetri Maaran described the violence as a “planned genocide,” highlighting attacks on schools, hospitals, and the dire humanitarian crisis marked by famine and malnutrition in Gaza.
• Thol. Thirumavalavan condemned imperialism and Zionism, called out the US for labeling Hamas a terrorist group, and criticized the UN’s slow response in recognizing the Gaza killings as genocide. He urged India to firmly support Palestine and pledged to organize protests in Delhi.

• Thirumurugan Gandhi demanded that the international community recognize Hamas as a legitimate liberation movement and Israel as a genocidal state, advocating for military intervention following genocide declarations.

Since October 7, 2023, the war has resulted in the deaths of over 65,000 Palestinians, largely women and children, with widespread displacement and famine causing further suffering.

The rally was a powerful demonstration of Tamil Nadu’s solidarity with Palestinians and a call for justice, peace, and international accountability.