Thousands out again in Vancouver to Stand with Palestine! ???? Despite the disinformation and intimidation, people came out in unseasonably cold weather to support Gaza and the Palestinian struggle for freedom! pic.twitter.com/aQDPQ2dYiu
— BDS Vancouver/Canada Palestine Association (@bds_vancouver) October 29, 2023
Great photos from yesterday's Vancouver rally and march to support the Palestinian people and their just struggle. (Photos via Michael YC Tseng) pic.twitter.com/mh5bvWjhD4
— BDS Vancouver/Canada Palestine Association (@bds_vancouver) October 29, 2023
Legal Defence Fund The unprecedented harassment of our community and supporters is increasing daily; we are setting up a defence fund to assist the youths that have been targeted by police and arrested at recent pro-Palestine actions, one of whom is a minor. We are also hoping to legally challenge the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police for their racist intimidation. Donations to the fund can be sent by etransfer to cpavancouver@gmail.com
Join us on Thursday October 19th at 6 pm to show that Vancouverites stand with Palestine and to mourn with Gaza as they bury the most recent victims of this ongoing genocide. Just today, Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza City, massacring hundreds (estimate so far is 800), including refugees taking shelter there.
Mayor Ken Sim has been vocal about his support for Israel since October 7th (and before) and also been smearing Palestinian supporters as “terrorists”. He issued an official statement on Oct. 9, saying that in response to “anti-Israel rallies”, he has asked the Vancouver Police Department to “investigate”. And indeed, on October 12th, the VPD Chief issued his own statement, announcing they have activated their “Operations Centre” incorporating “specialized resources and a senior command structure”. All this while reiterating multiple time that there is “no specific threat identified”.
We know the result of this: the rally on Oct. 13th on Commercial Dr. was one of the most heavily policed Palestine rallies in Vancouver history. But we are undeterred and will continue to speak up for Palestinians currently facing a real-time genocide.
This demonization from politicans matters. Just this week, a 6 year old Palestinian American boy was brutally stabbed to death near Chicago in a senseless racist attack. Join us for a rally and vigil at Vancouver City Hall to show that we will never abandon the Palestinian people!
Cosponsors: Canada Palestine Association, BDS Vancouver, Samidoun, Youth for Palestine Vancouver
Despite all the intimidation from politicians, the mayor, the police and the media, Vancouver showed up for Palestine tonight! Over one thousand people came out on short notice to demand freedom and justice for Palestinians, as yet another genocide is happening in real time in Gaza.
The rally included indigenous supporters and a broad cross-section of Vancouverites that rejected the dominant narrative trying to demonize all pro-Palestine support. It was also one of the most heavily policed pro-Palestine rallies in Vancouver history, the cops even brought their canine unit (for what purpose other than intimidation of an already traumitized community, we’re not sure).
On October 9, over 500 people came out in the Vancouver rain to show their support with the Palestinian people and to highlight they will not be intimidated by the biased disinformation coming from Western politicians and the media. Multiple speakers at the rally, which was followed by a march thru the downtown, emphasized that the Palestinians have been struggling against a vicious settler colonial project for 75 years and that this is the root of the ongoing violence. Many also called out the hypocrisy of Canadian officials who have fastidiously ignored Palestinian suffering through the decades, and are now rushing to see who can be more pro-Israel as it commits additional war crimes in Gaza.
The action was clear: We Stand with Palestine, and Our Voices will Never be Silenced!! (Photos courtesy Michael YC Tseng)
