Chennai: Thousands of people gathered in Chennai on Friday at a rally organised by the Periyar Followers Federation to protest Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The demonstration brought together political parties, social movements, and Muslim organisations, making it one of Tamil Nadu’s largest public actions in solidarity with Palestine.
Speakers included VCK chief and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, MLA Thaniyarasu, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader Jawahirullah MLA, May 17 Movement coordinator Thirumurugan Gandhi, actors Prakash Raj and Sathyaraj, and filmmaker Vetri Maaran.
Actor Prakash Raj described the protest as a moral duty. He condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States for their silence, stressing that wars end on paper but the suffering of families remains. Actor Sathyaraj called the bombing of civilians “inhuman,” and linked the atrocities to the Tamil Eelam genocide.
Filmmaker Vetri Maaran denounced the assault on Gaza as a “planned genocide,” citing starvation and the targeting of schools and hospitals. He urged solidarity with all oppressed people. Thirumavalavan connected the protest to Periyarist politics, blamed American imperialism and Israeli Zionism, and announced plans for further demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Thirumurugan Gandhi demanded that Israel be internationally recognised as a genocidal state and Palestine be declared independent. He said branding Hamas as terrorist ignores its role as a liberation movement.
Since October 2023, over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children. Famine has already taken at least 435 lives, including 147 children. The rally concluded with calls for global unity against genocide and justice for Palestine.
