Auckland Museum lights blacked out by Palestinian supporters
Stuff
Auckland Museum sparked a pro-Palestinian protest after it lit up blue for Israel on Sunday night.
Auckland War Memorial Museum sparked controversy as it lit up blue and white to support Israel, causing a group of pro-Palestinian supporters to gather in protest on Sunday evening.
Video of the incident shows multiple cars parked outside the museum. Protesters carried Palestinian flags and chanted, “Free Palestine”.
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Palestinian supporters covered the lights with jackets and scarfs, effectively “blacking out” the museum lights.
This comes one week after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel as part of their historical and long-standing conflict.
Last week, Israel declared war, firing airstrikes on the Hamus-ruled Gaza Strip and ordered a “complete siege” of the Palestinian enclave. Thousands have been killed on both sides and more injured.
Meanwhile, an Israeli order to cut off all food, electricity and water to Gaza will worsen the plight of residents in what has been called the “world’s largest open-air prison.”
Janfrie Wakim, a protester and member of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, was at the event.
She said Palestinian supporters put out the blue and white lights by covering them with items of clothes.
“It was a non-violent act of civil-disobedience,” she said.
Wakim said she didn’t believe a War Museum should take sides in an active conflict.
“I feel as if there is absolutely no place for the Museum [to comment on the conflict],” she added. “It is a war memorial museum, and it was set up at a time of imperialist power and the whole irony of this is that it is British imperialism that created the issue of Palestinians losing their sovereignty.”
Stuff
Auckland Museum had social media posts on Instagram stories and Facebook stories in support of Israel as of 8am on Monday.
Auckland Museum posted on social media Sunday night, writing its “thoughts go out to the many civilians impacted as a result of the terrorist attack in Israel a week ago today”.
“Your museum is lit in blue and white in solidarity with Israel. Our thoughts go out to the many civilians impacted as a result of the terrorist attack a week ago today.”
“As a war memorial, we value the importance of peaceful dialogue and understanding. We condemn all acts of violence and terrorism.”
Auckland Museum has been contacted for comment.
Police were called to the incident at 6.30pm and said the protesters had gone by 9pm. There were no reports of injury and no arrests.
