ROSA is an international socialist feminist activist group campaigning for the rights of women and trans people. The group organises against gender violence, objectification, sexism, oppression, and capitalism. Named after the iconic activists Rosa Luxemburg and Rosa Parks, the mission of the group is to offer support to the oppressed and marginalised.
This film was recorded on the day of Belfast Pride 2024 and documents the Belfast contingent of the ROSA movement marching to advocate for Palestine and Palestinians. The march was a gesture of solidarity with those suffering in Gaza, where ongoing violence had led to widespread humanitarian devastation. At the time, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had escalated into the Gaza War, which began in October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military invasion of the Gaza Strip. International human rights groups raised concerns over the impact of Israeli military actions on Palestinian civilians, with calls for accountability and allegations of genocide from some states and UN officials. Across Europe, the UK, and Ireland, activists organised marches and demonstrations to oppose the ongoing violence. Queer advocacy for Palestine highlights solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for justice, critiques of pinkwashing, and the amplification of queer Palestinian voices within the broader movement for rights and recognition.
The group also protests UK Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s decision in May 2023 to ban puberty blockers for under-18s, a move that has been criticised by trans rights advocates as discriminatory and harmful to trans healthcare.
The film follows the group as they march through Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, passing landmarks such as the historic St Anne’s Cathedral.