Pro-Palestinian demonstrations as Prime Minister Trudeau speaks in Vancouver
Posted December 15, 2023 7:30 am.
Last Updated December 15, 2023 11:14 am.
Crowds of protesters chanted outside the Westin Bayshore in downtown Vancouver Thursday night as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at an event inside.
Some pro-Palestinian ralliers lay down on the concrete and covered themselves in red-splattered sheets, demanding the Canadian government do more to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.
Charlotte Kates was among them, saying even though Canada now supports calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, it’s not enough.
“It’s time for Canada to take a real position that has some teeth to it about ending the genocide that is taking place in Gaza right now,” she told CityNews.
“Canada as a state is still complicit in what’s happening. Canada is still engaging in arms trade with Israel — $ 21 million a year. We are calling for an end to those things.”
Meanwhile, some members of the Jewish community were also there, lighting menorahs to mark the last night of Hanukkah.
Calling themselves a grassroots group of independent voices, the group gathered in solidarity with other ralliers.
“Today we are convening as Jews of conscience, redirecting, and rededicating our traditions in the name of justice to ward our Palestinian comrades, siblings, and cousins,” said Mia Amir, an organizer with Independent Jewish Voices.
Tamara Herman with IJV believes there is a false belief that all Jewish people support Israel’s actions in Gaza.
“There are growing contingents of Jewish people everywhere who are deeply, deeply opposed to this,” she told CityNews.
“So we have brought our menorah lighting here. It’s the last night of Hanukkah and we are lighting candles for the liberation of Palestinians.”
Herman believes Trudeau should not have attended the Liberal party fundraiser.
“This is a situation where the security of Palestinians, the security of Jewish people, global security is hanging in a fine balance.”
Inside the hotel, the Prime Minister made no mention of the rallies outside.
The demonstrations come after Trudeau was also followed by protests during a visit to Vancouver last month.
Videos posted from the Nov. 14 incident showed a group of around 250 demonstrators gathered outside of Bagheera, a speakeasy cocktail bar in Chinatown, with signs in hand and continuing “Ceasefire now” chants.
At that time, about 100 police officers were deployed to assist in “controlling the crowd so [Trudeau] could leave,” Sgt. Steve Addison said.
