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Political leaders are condemning what they describe as “hateful rhetoric” from a speaker at a pro-Palestinian rally in Vancouver, who told the crowd that “we are Hezbollah and we are Hamas.”
Both groups are listed as terrorist entities by Public Safety Canada.
In videos circulating online, an unidentified masked woman led a crowd of hundreds at the Vancouver Art Gallery Monday night in chants of “death to Canada, death to the United States and death to Israel” as some in the group burned Canadian flags.
The protest was organized by the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and was held on the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and simultaneously unleashed an Israeli counter-offensive that killed around 41,000 died. Gaza.
CBC News has not independently verified the videos posted online of the Vancouver rally, but a CBC journalist walking past the rally said they clearly heard a speaker chanting, “Death to Canada, death to the United States.”
The comments on the protest sparked universal condemnation among federal and provincial politicians, with the federal Conservative Party vowing to add Samidoun to the list of terrorist entities if it forms the next Canadian government.
“While Jewish Canadians live in fear, terror groups like Samidoun are free to raise funds and organizations like Hamas and the [Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine] who are trying to kill innocent Jews,” federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a statement.
“We have seen what happens when these groups are not taken seriously.”
Resistant to cowards who play politics for votes.
Samidoun is a front for an already banned terrorist group in this country – they should have the courage to ban them today.
It took six years for the IRGC to be banned.
They are radicals. pic.twitter.com/tbcHFStYnE
During question time in parliament on Tuesday, conservative members repeatedly demanded that Samidoun be added to the terrorist list.
“If they were to take action, they would have put them on the list already,” said Melissa Lantsman, a Conservative MP from Thornhill.
“So, if burning a Canadian flag, if calling for the death of Canadians, if stirring up hatred in this country, and especially being a front for an already designated terrorist organization, is not enough to to put on the list, what then? is it going to take the hell before they ban them?”
Jennifer O’Connell, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Public Safety, said the government would not follow the Conservatives and would “play politics” with the issue.
“When it comes to listing terrorist entities, the members before us know very well that this is not a political decision,” O’Connell said. “It is based on the national security services of this country.
“But it is precisely why the minister had already sent it for an urgent review, recognizing that this hatred is unacceptable in Canada.”
On social media platform
Eby said in his social media post that county residents “stand together against violence – and its glorification. And we strive for peace.”
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad said in a statement that the behavior is “completely unacceptable.”
Rustad, whose provincial Conservatives are clashing with Eby’s NDP in B.C.’s upcoming Oct. 19 election, said in his video statement that his party would “crack down on this kind of hate” if elected.
Fundamental freedom of expression is guaranteed to everyone in Canada under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Vancouver Police Department defends everyone’s democratic right to lawfully assemble and express themselves. We have a responsibility… pic.twitter.com/821odgzCnx
In a statement, Vancouver police said they are investigating whether actions during the protest constitute criminal offences.
Police say they heard from community members and others who were “deeply offended” by the actions at the rally.
They had told CBC News in an email Tuesday morning that there were no major public safety incidents and no arrests had been made.
Director arrested earlier
Samidoun director Charlotte Kates was arrested by Vancouver police last year in a hate crimes investigation and then released with a promise to appear in court on Tuesday, but no appearance is scheduled.
Kates was arrested after she praised the October 7 attack as “heroic and courageous” in a speech at a rally.
She is the international coordinator of Samidoun – an organization that fights to raise awareness about Palestinian prisoners.
The BC Public Prosecution Service said the process of reviewing the charges was ongoing and no timeline for its completion was available.
