Protests Across Canada to Oppose Arming Israeli Genocide Increase

National Capital Region

On June 1, close to 700 people marched through downtown Ottawa to express their unwavering support for the freedom, dignity and human rights of the Palestinian people. The march followed two successful actions against the CANSEC military trade show on May 29.

Before the march, an organizer for the Palestinian Youth Movement and Students for Justice in Palestine at Carleton University reminded everyone that one of the aims of the ongoing mass actions is to put pressure on Canada and demand that it, in turn, exert political pressure on Israel to cease its genocidal actions through not only an arms embargo but also economic sanctions and diplomatic efforts to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.

She spoke of the recent arrests at both CANSEC actions, part of the ongoing aggression, marginalization and racism against the Palestinian community by governments and police. "In front of CANSEC, one of our own community members was punched in the face by a man who called himself a proud racist. While he was detained, officers comforted him in his cell, telling him that he didn't deserve to be there and that they only arrested him to avoid backlash from our community. We will continue to face attempts by our governments to silence us and suppress our movement and our struggle as a whole. The students in Gaza have called on us to keep fighting and we cannot let them down."

In this spirit, everyone left the Human Rights Monument, marched through the Byward Market and then to the uOttawa campus to support the student encampment for Palestine.

June 1

Several hundred people gathered at the Human Rights monument in Ottawa on June 8 for the "Trudeau, what's your red line?" march for Palestine, marking eight months of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

One of the organizers denounced the June 8 massacre by the Israeli Zionists at the Nuseirat refugee camp where more than 200 Palestinians were killed and over 600 injured. To show the bias of the Western media on their coverage of the massacre, he quoted some BBC headlines, one of which reads: "Four Israeli hostages kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival have been rescued by the Israeli military" with all four hostages named in the article. "Do we ever hear of the names of Palestinian prisoners or of Palestinian martyrs?" Speaking of those killed at the Nuseirat camp, he asked, "Who are those people? Why are those people not named? Why do we not hear or see the word 'Palestinian'?"

In spite of heavy wind and rain the marchers proceeded, chanting slogans all the way, from the Human Rights monument to the hotel where University of Ottawa (uOttawa) students were celebrating their graduation.

Organizers pointed out that their aim was not to disrupt this important event in students' lives, but to denounce uOttawa's complicity in genocide. They said that thousands of young people in Gaza were also supposed to graduate this year, but many now lie under the rubble as all the universities in Gaza have been destroyed.

At the hotel marchers denounced uOttawa administrators who, in negotiations with students, eliminated from their May 27 counter-proposal the students' demands for divestment from companies involved in Israel's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank or that contribute to violent acts that target civilians. The administration's proposal, rejected by the students, also included a 36-hour deadline to clear the encampment and that there be no disruptions at the university or at any university events.

The action ended at the student encampment where people expressed their determination to keep speaking out against the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people and for a free Palestine.

June 8

On June 15, day-long activities of support were organized at the student encampment for Palestine at uOttawa. The day began with a prayer and sermon for the Eid celebrations on the encampment grounds, as a gesture of support for the encampment and for Palestinian liberation from genocide and occupation. People were invited to attend the Muslim celebration as one which transcends boundaries, as an expression of shared humanity, fostering greater respect, compassion, solidarity, and peace.

On June 22, a vibrant action was held on Parliament Hill organized by Ottawa Healthcare Professionals for Palestine, followed by a march through downtown Ottawa to the student encampment for Palestine.

The action was coordinated with health care workers and their allies across five major Canadian cities whose aim is to bring awareness to Israel's targeted attacks on health care infrastructure and workers in Gaza and to speak out against injustice, inequity and inequality.

Organizers pointed out that Israel continues to practice medical apartheid in Palestine in the occupied territories, adopting policies that are aimed at destroying the health care system and limiting access to health services to the Palestinian population. "For the past [eight] months, we have seen Israel advance beyond apartheid and accelerate their genocidal objectives by targeting health care infrastructure, personnel and equipment," they said.

The World Health Organization has logged 935 attacks on health care facilities alone through eight months of ongoing genocide. The destruction of the health care system has been the main thrust of the Israeli military strategy, as the medical system is essential to the survival of the Palestinian people.

Speaker after speaker spoke of their personal experience and perspective as health professionals in various fields. All stressed the need to advocate for Palestinian health care workers who, despite being displaced, forcibly starved, targeted and experiencing every kind of loss imaginable, remain committed to providing life-saving health care for Palestinians. They demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the deliberate targeting of health care workers, patients and medical infrastructure, an end to the siege and occupation of Palestine, the reopening of all borders, and unimpeded flow of life-saving humanitarian aid and medical personnel in and out of Gaza. "Our government must immediately impose sanctions and a two-way arms embargo on Israel. We also demand that our moral obligation as health care workers and our right as Canadian citizens to freely advocate for Palestinian health care and human rights without fear of censorship be respected. Our message is clear. We stand with the people of Gaza and call on our government, our MP's, our health care institutions and the international community to take decisive and immediate action," they said.

An elected official and spokesperson for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) proudly announced that the OPSEU Board had endorsed the international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on Israel, joining the Canadian Union of Public Employees-Ontario, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Unifor and other unions. His announcement, made to cheers from the participants, ended with "In our millions, in our billions, in our unions, we are all Palestinians!" He highlighted certain parts of the resolution, such as the call to reject attempts by government, political institutions and other organizations to equate criticism of the State of Israel and its policies or support for the rights of Palestinians with anti-Semitism or support for terrorism. The resolution also condemns attempts to silence workers, students, unions, organizations and individuals who speak out for an immediate ceasefire to end the ongoing genocide.

A social worker and mental health care professional pointed out that many Palestinian-Canadians have lost loved-ones, resulting in trauma and a feeling of helplessness which is exacerbated by the inaction and hypocrisy of elected officials and by blatant anti-Palestinian racism. "Palestinians face harassment and denial of their rights to peaceful protest, but despite those challenges, they continue to demonstrate sumoud, or steadfastness, a form of psychological resistance rooted in their culture and faith. Their strength is bolstered by the community diaspora and by the solidarity of people like you from diverse backgrounds."

A Palestinian dentist who served the Indigenous communities of Ontario and witnessed firsthand inequalities and lack of access to care, said that apartheid and the stopping of aid is not new to Palestinians. In 2001, her grandmother had a stroke, and because there was a curfew and cars were targeted without question just like now, she was transported in a donkey cart to a checkpoint eight minutes from a hospital. Israeli forces refused to let her through and she died on an eight-hour trek through the mountains to avoid checkpoints, never reaching a hospital. She said that the situation in Gaza today underscores the urgent need for international intervention and the mobilization of people of conscience.

Dr. Yipeng Ge said that despite repeated attacks and the destruction of Al-Shifa hospital, health care workers have been able to recreate a dialysis unit at the hospital site to treat patients with kidney disease. "They are rebuilding Al-Shifa hospital as we speak," he said. "The sumoud of our Palestinian health care colleagues is so profound that we must carry on, do everything possible for our Palestinian health care workers."

A silent, solemn die-in took place for 935 seconds, symbolizing the number of attacks on the health care community in Palestine in over eight months of ongoing genocide.

June 22

June 30

Nova Scotia

Halifax

About 100 people gathered in Victoria Park and marched to the Studley Quad of Dalhousie University to show support for the student encampment's call for the universities in the Halifax area to divest from companies supporting Israel.

A young Jewish woman speaking on her own behalf pointed out that people who are invaded and occupied and attacked have a right under international law to armed resistance and a student expressed his indignation that the tuition he pays to Dalhousie helps support the Israeli genocide.

A Mi'kmaw woman living in Halifax pointed out that Dalhousie has no right to order the student protesters off the campus since the University is on unceded Mi'kmaw territory and the aboriginal community has welcomed them there and supports their cause.

June 8

On June 20 a fund-raising Gig for Gaza was held at the Marquee Ballroom with Indigenous, Palestinian and local artists and speakers including Jenn Grant, Ria Mae, Mo Kenney, Jah'Mila, Shanii, Mama's Broke, BASYL, El Jones, Killa Atencio, and Rana Zaman. The event raised over $16,000 for Palestine to be sent to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Atlantic Canada Palestinian Society.

On June 22, more than one hundred people marched from Victoria Park to Al Zeitoun University, the liberated zone on the Dalhousie Studley Quad set up by the Students for the Liberation of Palestine Kjipuktuk (SLPK), a collective of students from Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, the University of King's College, Mount Saint Vincent University and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Holding high their Palestinian flags and signs, they shouted: From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free! The People United, Will Never Be Defeated! Hey Hey, Ho Ho, This Occupation's Got to Go! Long Live the Intifada!

At Al Zeitoun University there was lively discussion, starting with National Indigenous Peoples Day, which was the day before, and the stand of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in support of the Palestinian people. In early December the AFN unanimously adopted a resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire in Palestine and recognizing the Palestinians as an Indigenous People under international law. Besides demanding a ceasefire the resolution called for an end to the occupation of Gaza, the release of all hostages, the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid and the upholding of international human rights law in all occupied Indigenous Peoples' lands, including the West Bank and Gaza. The AFN denounced all forms of violence against Indigenous Peoples and called for an end to the violent, illegal occupation of their lands. The resolution reminded states of their "Treaty, moral and legal obligations to fully respect human rights and law, and its norms and standards, including respect of international treaties, which call on states to achieve peaceful co-existence with Indigenous Peoples." The new national chief of the AFN was instructed to immediately send a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau calling for a permanent ceasefire.

It is absolutely shameful and horrifying to the youth that the state and government issues apologies for the genocidal actions against First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples here on Turtle Island while turning their backs on the people of Palestine and funding the terrorist and colonial state of Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people. It demonstrates that there is no true understanding nor principled stance when it comes to the treatment of Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island either. Truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island lies in the fight for justice, dignity and right to be of all peoples, including Palestinians.

A young Palestinian girl around the age of nine also spoke militantly. She said "Palestinians were living safely in their country when the Israelis came and began to illegally expel them from their homes [...] The Palestinians reject this injustice and have resisted this occupation peacefully for 75 years." She said with confidence that in the future the Palestinian people will succeed in the liberation of Palestine.

Across Canada and Quebec, youth and students are saying Not in Our Name! Our Future, Our Say! Make Canada a Zone for Peace! From Turtle Island to Palestine, Genocide is a Crime!

June 22

Quebec

Kamouraska

June 2

Quebec City

On June 2, a lively demonstration was held in front of the Quebec National Assembly before taking to the streets of Old Quebec. It made a stop in front of the U.S. Consulate to denounce U.S. President "Genocide Joe" Biden and the U.S. government's crimes against Palestine.

Silence Is Complicity in Genocide!, Free Palestine, Shame on Trudeau, Joly and Legault, We Are All Palestinians! were among the slogans heard throughout the action.

One of the organizers denounced the arrest of three young people of Arab origin who had set up an encampment the previous day at Laval University.

June 2

On June 8, another demonstration in support of the Palestinian people took to the streets of Quebec City with the call to "Stop Canadian Arms Exports." Demonstrators began the march by denouncing the massacre the day before at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza. They demanded an embargo on Canadian arms sales to the Israeli government and sanctions against Israel. At the end of the march, people signed a large petition demanding this embargo. The organizers also announced an upcoming demonstration in front of the office of Jean-Yves Duclos, federal MP for Quebec City and Canada's Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

June 8

Montreal

Responding to a call from the Coalition du Québec Urgence Palestine, almost 2,000 people gathered at Lafontaine Park in Montreal on June 8 in support of the Palestinian people.

Among the speakers, a representative of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) said:

"A month ago, political leaders from around the world, including Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau, declared that the invasion of Rafah was a red line. But in the last week, the Zionist army has not only carried out a ground invasion of Rafah but has also committed massacres there.

"This is a place where a million Palestinians are crammed into tents and where the Zionist military has forced almost a million Palestinians to live in unbearable conditions. It was in these same camps, a few days before the flames reduced them to ashes, that children drew and wrote messages addressed to the whole world. Using crayons, the displaced children from Gaza thanked the whole world for having mobilized for Gaza.

"We are here to question this famous red line. Where is the red line he is talking about? What criminal acts will be deemed unjustifiable and will constitute a red line? Is it criminal attacks like beheading babies? Is it the assault on women? Is it committing a massacre? Is it the targeting of hospitals? Is it shooting journalists? Because all these crimes have been committed by the Israeli occupying forces and, according to these so-called leaders of the free world, none of these acts is criminal enough to constitute a red line. Even today the occupying forces are attacking refugee camps in the Gaza Strip.

[...] "We can no longer wait for the leaders to keep their promises. The people must take charge. And that is why thousands of people who support the liberation of Palestine are at this very moment encircling the White House in Washington in the United States, forming a human red line.

"It's time to set the record straight. This genocide would not have been possible without the support, collaboration and consent of the U.S. Empire, Canadian and Western governments."

The PYM representative denounced the Western countries who claim to champion human rights and who have turned a blind eye to the crimes of the Zionist occupation because they profit from the massacres of the Palestinians and said, "But we know that power is not in the hands of world leaders. It is in the hands of the people. It is in our hands. Yes, we have all seen the horrific scenes that unfold every day in Gaza and we mourn over 40,000 martyrs, people who had dreams, lives, aspirations, families. But we cannot fall into despair. We must remember that in all the wars of liberation from Vietnam to Algeria, the aggressor and the occupier have always killed and murdered civilians, but that is not a victory. If that were the case, they would have won in Vietnam, Lebanon or Afghanistan, but they didn't win, they lost.

"I salute our people who continue to stand firm on their land. I salute the steadfast Palestinian resistance that continues to confront the enemy and defend its people. I salute the children of the stones, the dreamers of liberation and those fighting for change. Greetings to our brave little nation that has not stopped fighting for a single day. And it will be the graveyard of all the empires of the world.

"We have a message to send to Justin Trudeau and François Legault. We will never stop the struggle for liberation until every refugee returns to his land, until every prisoner is released from Zionist jails, until Gaza is free and until justice prevails because we know that Palestine will live, Palestine will win."

June 8

June 15

June 22

June 29

June 30

Ontario

Toronto

June 8

June 22

Mississauga

June 1

Brampton

Picket outside Trudeau fund-raising dinner, June 27

Milton

June 1

Sudbury

Palestine Solidarity (Sudbury) continues to hold weekly actions in support of Palestine and demanding an end to Canada's complicity in Israel's genocide. Its No Nickel for Genocide Working Group has launched a petition calling on the Canadian government to ban the sale of nickel to Israel and to arms manufacturers that supply Israel. The petition, which has been signed by over 1,500 people since being posted on the House of Commons website on June 12, is open until October 10, after which it will be presented to Parliament by Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus. Then the government is required to respond within 45 days. To sign the petition click here.

This article was published in

Volume 54 Number 39 - July 1, 2024