Canadian Youth Demand Accountability
Chrystia Freeland's Support for U.S./Zionist Genocide in Gaza Denounced at Campaign Launch
Toronto youth organized a "rolling protest" at the official launch of Chrystia Freeland's bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party. Freeland's campaign launch was held on January 19 at the St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club in her University-Rosedale riding. Since the beginning of the genocide against the Palestinian people, concerned constituents who support the struggle of the Palestinian people for an end to the occupation and for an end to Canada's despicable role in it, have been trying to meet with Freeland, without success. One after another, the youth denounced Freeland's active support, as MP, as Deputy Leader and as Finance Minister for the brutal U.S./Zionist genocide.
One youth holding a Palestinian flag denounced Freeland for her responsibility as Finance Minister for Canada's funding of the Zionist state and supplying arms to Israel. Others chanted Free, Free Palestine! Another youth shouted Freeland, Freeland you can't hide, you're complicit in genocide. While Freeland was speaking two youth unfurled a banner right behind her which read: "Freeland: Our Deputy PM -- Gravedigger."
It was not lost on anyone that Freeland began her speech by lauding the excellent work that the staff at the St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club were doing to support the children with after-school programs, having not once, in 15 months of bombing, starvation and targetting of civilians in Gaza, uttered a single word against the mass killing of thousands of Palestinian children and their families by the U.S./Zionist military occupiers.
Freeland, in words dripping with liberal hypocrisy, responded to the disruption by saying that in Canada everyone has the right to dissent and protest, because "this is Canada" and this is "our democracy" but, the bottom line, they must respect her right to speak. This from an MP who has refused to meet with her constituents to hear their concerns while presenting herself as the champion of "our democracy" that has funded and aided a genocide for 15 months. This is after she herself, student of history and expert on Ukraine, joined in a standing ovation in Parliament in September 22, 2023, for a Ukrainian Nazi-collaborator, Yaroslav Hunka, member of the Waffen SS during the Second World War.
The "right to dissent" of the protesters was quickly put to the test when thirteen police cars appeared as soon as the youth started their protest. In their statement, the protesters said that they took their action to hold Freeland to account for supporting the genocide against the Palestinian people and her refusal to meet with constituents on this critical issue.
(With files from CPAC. Photo: PYM)
This article was published in
Friday, January 24, 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2025/Articles/TI55064.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca