These Are Our Streets

On May 16th, the streets will be filled with different voices. Some seek to divide us — and they have had some success. But many others will be marching for unity, humanity, and solidarity.

There has never been a moment in decades where the choice has been this clear. The sides are defined. There is nowhere left to hide — not behind soft, silky words, not behind meaningless gestures.

Today, you either stand for humanity or you don't. Against genocide, against fascism, against injustice — or you don't.

And we will be judged accordingly:

Celebrated by those who hold universal values. By our bravest souls who oppose genocide. By those willing to pay any price to be on the right side of history.

Vilified by those who call the killing of children self-defence. Who call the starving of babies a security measure. Who call the bombing of hospitals precision warfare. By those who profit from the genocide — who market their weapons as battle-tested. Tested on whom? On children. On civilians. Those are the ones who stand with Israel today. And the same crowd that are looking to divide us.

I know what I choose.

I choose my humanity. I choose our fellow human beings — our equals — regardless of colour, creed, religion, or any label the world tries to divide us with. That is my choice. It has always been, and will always be my choice.

But I have to be honest:

I am a coward.

I fear for my job. 

I fear for my status. 

I fear being targeted, being intimidated. 

I fear the uncomfortable conversation, the awkward silence, the cost of being seen.

And I know I am not alone in that fear.

But now — 

Now we must undress our souls of this fear and set them free.

We need to be seen. 

Seen as pro-Palestine. 

Seen as pro-unity. 

Seen as pro-humanity. 

We need to wear our hearts on the outside — not tucked away safely where no one can challenge them — but out here, in the open, visible to the masses.

Because when they see us — the ones still hiding in their fear, in their enclaves, in their silence — the ones like me and you, afraid — they will find the courage to come out, to be seen, to fill these streets.

Because these are our streets.

Our cafes, our pubs, our football clubs, our corner shops. 

These are ours: British and proud.

And we must stand together — because "we must all hang together, or we shall most assuredly hang separately."

We must defeat our fears.

We must fight division.

We must march, be seen, and stand united.

So on May 16th — show up. For Palestine. For humanity. For each other.

Ahmad Baker

09.05.2026