In September 2017 Susannah O’Sullivan left her job to cycle 4,000 kilometres from Bristol to Palestine, before spending 3 months working with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in Hebron, the Jordan Valley and 2 months teaching in Nablus.
Susannah O’Sullivan in Slovenia on her ride to Palestine
During this time she met environmental activists working to support the boycott of Israeli produce by growing organic vegetables. When not working, she also took the opportunity to cycle in the Palestinian country side. Susannah will give a presentation about her time whilst in Palestine and her experience of riding there.
Susannah O’Sullivan in Montenegro on her way to Palestine
In response to ‘Operation Protective Edge’, the devastating assault on Gaza in 2014, the first Big Ride for Palestine took place in August 2015. It has since become an annual event, with over 200 cyclists riding from Coventry to London this year. We will be showing a short film of this year’s ride made by Jess Hutchinson, a young film maker who also rode this year’s Big Ride.
Owen Cooper, coordinator of the Big Ride for Palestine, will lead a discussion on cycling and solidarity. Owen was one of six Big Riders who visited Palestine in 2017 joining eight others on the Zyara for Palestine. Twelve of the fourteen cycled The Big Ride for Palestine in 2018.