Palestine supporters gather for fifth consecutive week, call for ceasefire

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This article was published 19/11/2023 (682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A few hundred Palestine supporters gathered on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature Sunday afternoon to participate in what is now the fifth consecutive week of public demonstrations in Winnipeg since war broke out in the Middle East last month.

The crowd cheered and chanted in unison as an assortment of leaders, advocates and academics from the Palestinian communities led impassioned speeches on the steps of Manitoba’s highest public office.

All who spoke called for a ceasefire in Gaza, with many condemning what they said is a reluctance on the part of federal and provincial politicians, business leaders and the media to speak against ongoing military action in the Gaza Strip.

“(Canadian) politicians are fence-sitters. Our politician leadership expresses unwavering support where they strongly emphasize the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians… they twitch and flick in multiple directions, so you don’t know really where they stand,” Palestinian advocate Rana Abdulla told the crowd.

“We feel unheard, we feel unseen.”

Several politicians were singled out amid the speeches, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Wab Kinew. While both men have spoken out against violence, hate and the death of innocents — neither have explicitly spoken in favour of a ceasefire. Pierre Poilievre, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, has taken a similar stance.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh penned a letter to Trudeau earlier this month, calling for a ceasefire. All members of the NDP’s federal caucus signed in support, including Winnipeg MPs Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood – Transcona) and Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre).

Protesters in major cities across North America have increasingly called for a ceasefire during demonstrations in recent weeks.

Sunday’s crowd marched to the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street after the speeches ended, escorted by several Winnipeg Police Service vehicles.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca