Keighley Peace Vigil

from NFPB member Kathie McLelland

Every weekday between 2 & 3pm, there is a vigil outside the former Lloyds Bank, close to Keighley bus station, and it will continue until there is a cease-fire agreement in Israel/Palestine. Although this was initiated by Sylvia Boyes, it cannot be said to have any ‘ownership’. It is attended by a variety of individuals, in varying combinations, and continues even when Sylvia is unavailable.

In response to the horrifying events of 7 October and after, a member of Keighley Parish Church arranged a vigil/prayer meeting inside the church. Sylvia felt this was a moving experience. However, it was mainly white-British centred, and did not feel to be enough: ‘I had hopes of further actions, and wished to stand publicly in solidarity with those suffering in Palestine/Israel, because we in this country are not impartial, innocent, bystanders to the conflict. The idea of a vigil, but out on the street grew. As a white British person, I am aware of the British involvement in Israel/ Palestine from the beginning of the 20th century onwards.’ Many other Keighley residents were feeling solidarity with the suffering citizens of Gaza. ‘The involvement of South Africa in requesting an Advisory Opinion on the actions of the Israeli government and the IDF strengthened my resolve’.

At first the vigil was simply Sylvia, with banners, standing on the corner of North Street and Bow Street. Keighley Peace, Justice, Environment Network publicised the vigil, but others simply saw her there, and joined in; this has included Keighley people with south Asian heritage. It cannot be called a silent vigil, but there is no shouting. ‘With a growing sense of the U.N and International Humanitarian Law being undermined by the ‘West’, I felt I had to continue to be there, I could do no other’. Sylvia’s banners and placards emphasise the need for achieving peace through justice alongside other Quakerly messages. There has been a realisation that the small group who are regularly committed to the vigil are different from those who usually support CND or CAAT in Keighley. Some have placards in support of Palestine, but there are no large flags.

‘As time passes, the differences between us can be managed while maintaining the original idea, but I am hoping there will be a cease fire so that we can reassess our response’. Although, at an early vigil there was a complaint from a young Police Community Support Officer, once she realised that the banners on the railings would be removed at the end of the hour, no further action was taken. Since then, there has been no sign of a police presence.

‘The response from passers-by and vehicles has been on the whole positive. We have offers of food and teas together with many words of thanking us for what we are doing’. A local shop and the Buddhist café are willing to store placards and banners between vigils.