Activists in Vancouver came out to shame and expose Scotiabank for their investment in Israeli arms dealer Elbit Systems. Despite unusually cold weather, a large and spirited picket was held at the intersection at Broadway and Commercial during the busy rush hour. Under the big banner of “Israel bombs, Scotiabank pays”, the picket was highly visible and received great support from cars, buses, trucks and pedestrians. (Photos courtesy Michael YC Tseng)
We know that people are fed up with the support of both Canadian big business and the government for Israeli genocide and war crimes. Stay tuned for more actions coming up on Dec. 13/14!
We are appalled and outraged by the excessive police action yesterday in Vancouver against local activist Charlotte Kates. We demand answers from the VPD and Ken Sim regarding this ridiculous ramping up of intimidation of pro-Palestine advocates. Why did you need the Emergency Response Team, decked out in full tactical gear with an armoured vehicle, to execute one search warrant in a quiet residential house currently inhabited by one woman? Are you trying to convince others that those who support Palestine are dangerous and thus require this over-the-top repression? According to news sources, even her neighbours were horrified (and frightened) at the level of force employed.
All you have proven is that Vancouver police are quickly descending into the most despicable kind of tactics, and showing their own ineptitude and lack of respect for the most basic rights of people.
The local Palestinian community will remember this latest action (and others before) that have exposed the anti-Palestinian racism inherent in your administration.
Hanna Kawas, Chair Canada Palestine Association – Vancouver ________________________________________
Background info on legal complaint: Police Board to consider legal complaints filed against VPD for excessive use of force and surveillance of Palestine movement Says Dania Barakat, a local Palestinian organizer: “Across the country and around the world, we are seeing a rise in police and state repression against pro-Palestinian activists. This increasing anti-Palestinian racism is happening as we are witnessing a genocide unfolding in Gaza every day and as Canada refuses to implement a two-way arms embargo against Israel. But the VPD repression and surveillance of our actions will not stop us. The global movement for our liberation is only growing.”
The Canada Palestine Association condemns the Canadian government’s banning of Samidoun, a pro-Palestinian advocacy group. This move was done in conjunction with the US government and followed years of aggressive Zionist lobbying. It also represented “cheap politics” on the part of the current Liberal government, pandering to a right wing agenda and trying to score political points by literally squashing civil and democratic rights.
For over a year, the Canadian government has not taken any serious actions against the Israeli TERRORISM, war crimes and genocide being carried out against the Palestinian and Lebanese people. But instead of criminalizing those forces who are actually burning people alive in Gaza, this government chose to put yet another Palestinian group on its “terrorist list”. And this time, they are setting a dangerous precedent by banning an independent Palestinian political advocacy group with no organizational affiliations to any Palestinian resistance groups.
The Israeli government and its array of lobby groups have clearly been behind these listings; their main objective is to supress any solidarity work for Palestinian liberation and supress criticism of the Zionist settler colonialist project (Israel).
Repression against advocates for Palestine is steadily increasing across Canada, from arrests by local police forces to unfounded smears by provincial and federal politicians. But as CPA Chair Hanna Kawas said in a recent interview: “We’re going to keep the solidarity work (alive) and the support work for Palestinian liberation and for Palestinian resistance organizations, whether they like it or not.”
We must continue to stand with the Palestinian people and not be intimidated with government edicts; lets show true internationalist solidarity with Palestinian advocacy and liberation and show that anti-Palestinian racism has no place in Canada or anywhere else.
