Drums, pots and pans, tambourines, a really good brass section and the voices of the people – Israel in all its diversity, different ages, backgrounds, spirituality and politics, coming together in to say: the people want social justice. That was the sound of September 3, 2011, the sound of people who believe that change is possible.
It was one of the most peaceful, friendly demonstrations I have ever seen. Walking from Habima Square toward the main gathering place in Kikar Hamedina, people cheered on the protesters from their windows and balconies. The newspapers report that over 450,000 protesters were out on the streets, the largest demonstration in Israeli history, but the response in Tel Aviv suggests that the support for the protest is even greater than these numbers. They called it the “March of the Million” and many protesters carried signs or wore Tshirts proclaiming: there are millions like me. I hope they’re right.
Many were inspired by Israeli songs in creating their signs. The changing mood can be seen in Aviv Gefen’s anthemic Anahnu Dor Mezuyan (We’re the Fucked Up Generation 1993) transformed into “Anahnu Dor Metzuyan” – We’re an excellent generation. Both Yaakov Rotblit’s Shir Lashalom (The Song to Peace, lyrics: Yaakov Rotblit, music: Yair Rosenblum) and Ehud Manor’s Ein Li Eretz Aheret (I Have No Other Country, lyrics: Ehud Manor, music: Korin Alal) express the spirit of the protest from the balconies and on the street.
The quiet, lyric resolve of this poetic protest song is the backdrop for a powerful video made by Asaf and Michal Klein Shafir in the week before the rallies:
Image credit: Inbal Zach
