Protestors march in Dorchester for a ceasefire in Gaza

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Town Pump, Cornhill with placards and Palestinian flags, as crowds heard from a number of speakers before marching through the town centre.

Speakers included union representatives, teachers, schoolchildren and concerned members of the public.

Crowds gathered with Palestinian flags aloft in Dorchester (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Crowds marched through Dorchester high street (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Crowds chanted Free Palestine and ceasefire now (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Chants of "Free Palestine" and  "ceasefire now" were called out as the campaigners marched down Cornhill.

Lynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up to Racism Dorset, said: “As a health worker but also as a human being, watching what is going on in Gaza now, I don’t think any of us have seen anything like it.

Lynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up to Racism Dorset said she wanted the tragedy to stop (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“It is up to ordinary people to say not in our name.

“People on the march today are the very people who would stand against antisemitism, today we also had many Jewish people on the march who feel it is not in their name.

“We want to stop the tragedy of what is going on currently in Gaza.

Organiser Rob Ferguson is Jewish and had family members who died during the Holocaust.

Rob Ferguson organised the rally (Image: Tom Lawrence)

He said: "I was brought up in a family who opposed all forms of discrimination and racism.

"My family consists of zionists, non-zionists, anti-zionists, religious, non-religious, conservatives and communists, it made no difference on the gates of Auschwitz.

"The fight for a world free of racism, war and antisemitism is bound up with the struggle of a free Palestine."

Among campaigners was Portland Town Councillor Giovanna Lewis.

Cllr Lewis said: "I can’t bear the slaughter I see every day on the television of innocent human beings so I have to do something.

“It is important that we show as political representatives that we want a ceasefire, that is what being here is about.

Cllr Giovanna Lewis said: we need to stop killing and start talking (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“We have to stop killing and start talking."

The protest was met with some resistance by members of the public who voiced their distaste for the sentiments, but the event remained peaceful and no intervention was needed.

Asked about her thoughts on opposing views, Cllr Lewis added: “We saw there was a bit of heckling

"I would say to anyone who is offended, let's have a cup of coffee and talk about it because we are all friends.

“The enemies are the people at the top.”

Protests continue every weekend with local demonstrations and national demonstrations on alternate weekends.

Dorset Portland Solidarity Campaign are booking a coach to the next national protest on Saturday, November 25, bookings can be made by calling 07949 200236.