Leaders Denounce B.C. Rally Chanting ‘Death to Canada
Political leaders are condemning what they call “hateful rhetoric” from a speaker at a pro-Palestinian rally in Vancouver, where a masked woman led the crowd in chants declaring, “we are Hezbollah and we are Hamas.” Both Hezbollah and Hamas are classified as terrorist organizations by Public Safety Canada.
Footage circulated online shows the woman, surrounded by hundreds of protesters at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Monday night, chanting “death to Canada, death to the United States, and death to Israel.” Some members of the crowd were seen burning Canadian flags. The rally was organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and took place on the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and prompted an Israeli counteroffensive, resulting in approximately 41,000 deaths in Gaza.
The remarks and actions at the protest sparked widespread condemnation from both federal and provincial politicians. The federal Conservative Party vowed to add Samidoun to Canada’s list of terrorist entities if they form the next government.
“While Jewish Canadians live in fear, terror groups like Samidoun continue to fundraise and support organizations like Hamas and the [Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine], which seek to kill innocent Jews,” said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in a statement. “We’ve seen the consequences of not taking these groups seriously.”
During Tuesday’s question period in Parliament, Conservative MPs repeatedly called for Samidoun to be added to the terrorist list. Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman criticized the lack of action, stating: “If burning a Canadian flag, calling for the death of Canadians, and being a front for a listed terrorist organization isn’t enough to get them banned, then what will it take?”
On social media platform X, British Columbia Premier David Eby condemned the speech, stating, “This kind of hateful rhetoric is wrong and has no place in our province.” Eby affirmed that the people of B.C. “stand together against violence and the glorification of it” while striving for peace.
The Vancouver Police Department announced it is investigating whether any criminal offenses were committed at the rally, noting that many community members were “deeply offended” by the events.
