Cornwall bank smothered in red paint by protesters

Lisa Letcher

30 June 2024 at 8:24 am·3-min read

A Cornish bank branch has been smothered in red paint by protesters during one of the town's biggest celebrations of the year. The Barclays Bank on Market Jew Street in Penzance was targeted ahead of Golowan weekend.

The Midsummer celebration brings tens of thousands to the town for a ten-day furore of arts, performances, culture and parades. It's said to be the UK's second-largest street festival. You can see our pictures from the occasion's highlight, the Mazey Day celebrations, here.

But on Friday (June 28) night protesters made their mark ahead of the event as they took to the facade of the bank with red paint. Messages on the bank read 'Free Palestine'.

It's not clear who was responsible for the act but similar occurrences have been happening all across the country targetting the banking giant. Protesters have targeted more than two dozen branches including several in London.

The campaign group Palestine Action has taken responsibility for many of them with the group sharing various photos of bags of rocks, some painted with Palestine flags. They've also shared slogans saying things like “Barclays murderer and proud” and “for Reem our soul”.

⚠️ Want the latest Cornwall breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Golowan (sometimes also Goluan) is the Cornish language word for the Midsummer celebrations in Cornwall, UK. They were widespread before the late 19th century and most popular in the Penwith area and in particular in Penzance where it's still a pivotal moment on the Cornwall calendar, running from June 21 to 30 each year.

One of the protesters said: "'Barclays provides billions in investment to arms companies providing weapons and military tech to Israel. They profit from supporting and arming Israel and enable its genocidal war on the Palestinian people.

"Barclays was boycotted first in the 80s for investing in and supporting South Africa's minority white rule and apartheid state. They prove constantly to be on the wrong side of history. This action took place to draw people's attention to the fact that Barclays puts profit before people, even at the cost of human life and liberty."

A spokesperson for Barclays has previously said of countrywide vandalism: “We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies. Barclays does not directly invest in these companies.

“The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG considerations.

“Decisions on the implementation of arms embargos to other nations are the job of respective elected governments. While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property.”

Yahoo News UK
How a far-right French government could affect small boats crossings in the Channel
France is one step closer to a far-right government following National Rally's success in the first round of elections – but what does this mean for the UK?
The Telegraph
Starmer’s worst blunder should disqualify him as prime minister
The single biggest thing that happened over the last Parliament was the Covid crisis. It had an immeasurable impact on our economy and society. And Labour’s record in that period, especially during 2021, was appalling. Indeed it was sufficiently bad that at the time many people said Starmer’s errors ruled him out of any possible future as Prime Minister.
HuffPost
'Very Bad News' For Trump: Lawrence O'Donnell Says Ruling Could Backfire Quickly
The MSNBC host revealed how the former president's case could be back in court quicker than anyone realizes.
HuffPost
Reporter Reveals 'Real Anger' From Biden White House Aides After Debate
They were "shocked" and felt "they had not been told the truth," said Axios' Alex Thompson.
HuffPost
Harvard Law Professor Delivers Chilling Prediction After Trump Immunity Ruling
Laurence Tribe explained what the SCOTUS decision means in "practical purposes" and it's "devastating."
Echo
Just ONE crane in country can bear the weight of Queensway bridge set for removal
The Queensway Bridge has been the scene of several tragedies, including the death of 19-year-old Chris Nota in 2020
Evening Standard
Tories narrow gap to Labour in poll as Sunak says election result not ‘foregone conclusion'
Poll shows the Conservatives have closed their gap behind Labour to 15 points, the smallest lead for Sir Keir Starmer’s party for a month
The Telegraph
Has Nigel Farage stumbled at the last hurdle? Our writers give their verdicts
One party has transformed the general election race, with Nigel Farage announcing several weeks ago that he would not only stand as a Reform UK candidate but would lead it for the next five years. The polls moved quickly in the days that followed with his party rising up the rankings. Now, however, there is doubt over its state in the final week of campaigning. Have Farage and Reform UK bungled it, allowing a slew of stories regarding candidates to dominate the narrative, or is this an exaggerat
HuffPost
Supreme Court: Trump Has 'Absolute Immunity' For Core Constitutional Powers
The court found that Trump is entitled to immunity from prosecution for "official" acts, but not "unofficial" ones, and ordered lower courts to decide which acts are which.
Yahoo Finance
Brexit brings dire warnings for Trumpism
When Britain voted to exit the European Union in 2016, Donald Trump, then the Republican candidate for president, declared himself 'Mr. Brexit.'
The Independent
Black journalist removed from Reform UK rally by security
Femi Oluwole was removed by security guards saying they ‘didnt know’ why despite showing them his press card
Associated Press
Trump says he can end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day. Russia's UN ambassador says he can't
Donald Trump has said repeatedly he could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day if he’s elected president again. Russia’s United Nations ambassador says he can’t. When asked to respond to the claim from the presumptive Republican nominee, Vassily Nebenzia told reporters Monday that "the Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day.”
HuffPost
AOC Says She'll File Articles Of Impeachment Amid SCOTUS 'Corruption Crisis'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's threat of impeachment comes after the court ruled on Trump's immunity argument.
HuffPost UK
'They Don't Like You Any More': John Kay Mocks Cleverly After Newspapers Back Labour
Heavyweight publications The Sunday Times, The Economist and Financial Times have all endorsed Keir Starmer's party.
The Telegraph
How do you get rid of a dictator? Here are some tips
In an age when dictators and authoritarian regimes are all the rage, it becomes all the more imperative for peace-loving democrats to consider ways of getting rid of them. Yet on some happy – albeit rare – occasions, the more repellent members of the dictatorial species, by dint of incompetence or arrogance, manage to do the job themselves.
The Telegraph
Emmanuel Macron is about to become unbearable
His party faces near-annihilation in the National Assembly, with fewer seats than Rishi Sunak’s Tories can hope for later this week. His prime ministers, past and present, could not find hard enough words in private to describe his “suicidal” snap election decision since he took it three weeks ago. Marine Le Pen was quick to claim an historic victory as her National Rally came first in yesterday’s first round of the legislative elections, with 33 per cent of the vote.
HuffPost UK
'More Chance Of Lightning Striking Twice': Sunak Hit With Brutal Prediction About His Career In BBC Interview
The prime minister did not even deny pollster Sir John Curtice's claim.
Business Insider
Ukraine says it destroyed almost 60 Russian air defense systems in June, the second-highest number of monthly kills since the war began
War experts have suggested that Ukraine may be degrading Russian air defenses, possibly with the coming F-16s in mind.
Associated Press
Trump seeks to set aside his New York hush money guilty verdict after Supreme Court immunity ruling
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers have asked the New York judge who presided over his hush money trial to set aside his conviction and delay his sentencing, scheduled for next week. The letter to Judge Juan M. Merchan cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier Monday and asked the judge to delay Trump’s sentencing while he weighs the high court’s decision and how it could influence the New York case, according to the letter obtained by The Associated Press. The lawyers argue that the Supreme Court’s decision confirmed a position the defense raised earlier in the case that prosecutors should have been precluded from introducing some evidence they said constituted official presidential acts, according to the letter.
ABC News
Supreme Court gives Trump some immunity in Jan. 6 case, but not for 'unofficial acts'
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said former President Donald Trump is entitled to some immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken to overturn results of the 2020 election but sent the case back to the trial court to sort out which charges can stand, effectively delaying any potential trial until after the November election. The 6-3 opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts. Trump had claimed "absolute immunity" for all his actions, but Roberts noted that, "Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized."

Latest stories