Hundreds of children’s shoes were laid out across Jubilee Square in Brighton this Friday, each pair a reminder of the young lives lost in the war in Gaza. The memorial organised by the Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign honoured more than 20,000 children reportedly killed in Gaza over the past two years. The memorial is part of 11 days of Protest and Commemoration across Brighton and Hove.
Organisers said that the aim was simple: to “bring together people to just ensure that the Palestinians, their story, the narrative, is reflected and also to offer spaces like memorials, to support people, to show their emotions safely,” one organiser explained.
In just 10 days, more than 600 pairs of shoes were collected from residents. They ranged from tiny toddler sandals to worn-out boots, some of which had flowers inside. The square was transformed into a place of reflection. Visitors walked among the rows quietly, stopping to take in the scale of the loss, as a ticking sound was heard, counting every child killed in the conflict.
For many who came to Jubilee Square, the display wasn’t about politics, but about basic humanity. Some stopped to take photos, others to lay flowers, or just stand in silence. “Lots of tears, lots of hugs, and lots of people feeling like they want to be with others to express their sadness,” the organiser said.
Actions like this are part of a growing number of community-led events calling for peace and accountability. Similar memorials have taken place across the world, where groups have also used shoes as a powerful symbol of loss.
Photos: Aron Curtis
Next week marks two years since the war in Gaza erupted on 7 October 2023, in response to the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Since then, Gaza has endured bombardments, leaving families displaced and the strip in ruins. Aid agencies are reporting that children are among the most affected, facing hunger, lack of water, and the destruction of schools and hospitals.
The Organisers also used the memorial to show solidarity with the Jewish community after the recent terror attack on a Jewish synagogue in Manchester. “We’re absolutely devastated to hear what’s happened in the synagogue, and we are here for our Jewish allies”, the organiser said. “We do not want any minoritized community to feel targeted or fearful”.
Their message to local and national leaders was equally clear: “We want to feel more connected to one another,” the organiser added. “We don’t want more division, and that means that we want our shared humanity to be respected”.
As the shoes remained lined up into the evening, the message was simple: to remember the children who never got the chance to grow up, and to remind those here of the importance of compassion, even in the darkest times.
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