Winnipeg woman launches hunger strike as ‘moral obligation’

A Winnipeg woman has launched a hunger strike outside the offices of Liberal MPs to raise awareness of what she says is genocide in Gaza.

Monique Vermette hasn’t consumed anything except water with electrolytes since Sunday to protest Gaza citizens not getting enough food aid because of Israeli blockades 22 months into the war.

“I am on a hunger strike because the pain of Gaza screams louder every day, yet no one hears,” Vermette said. “Because I have a moral obligation to speak out in the face of oppression. Because Canada is complicit in this genocide and refuses to act.

“Wake up, Gaza is starving.”

Vermette said she protested at MP Doug Eyolfson’s Portage Avenue office Monday and at Ben Carr’s Corydon Avenue office Tuesday. On Wednesday, she promised to be outside city hall at noon and the Manitoba Legislative Building at 6 p.m. On Thursday and Friday, she expects to visit the offices of MPs Terry Duguid and Ginette Lavack respectively.

On Tuesday, Canada, Britain, Australia and 21 other European allies called on Israel to allow aid to enter Gaza with no restrictions.

Israel has accused Hamas of stealing aid shipments to Gaza, which Hamas has denied.

Gaza’s health ministry has said 227 people, including 103 children, have died from starvation and malnutrition since the war started after Hamas-led militants crossed into Israel and killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023. It said last month more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 145,000 injured during the war.

Vermette said she has encountered few people so far during her hunger strike. City hall was closed when she went there Sunday and Eyolfson’s office was also shut.

“His office had a sign on it saying it was closed due to unforeseen circumstances,” she said.

As to whether it was closed because of her protest, Vermette said “I can’t say for sure, but I think it is definitely possible because there have been protests I have been part of in the past where MP offices just decided to close even though they are peaceful protests.

“I can’t imagine them being scared of me with my sign, all alone, peacefully protesting outside when they are politicians and their job is to listen to what the people have to say.”

Carr said he was away and couldn’t comment while the other MPs could not be reached for comment.

Another protest was set to be held outside Folklorama’s Israeli pavilion Wednesday night.

Candice Bodnaruk, organizer with Peace Alliance Winnipeg, said the annual protest began in 2014 to oppose Israel’s 51-day war on Gaza.

“The first few years people said they had no idea about any of this stuff that was going on,” Bodnaruk said.

“Now, I don’t see how, after being in the news and the stories, how anybody can say now they don’t know what is going on as they go into this pavilion.”

Bodnaruk said the group has asked Folklorama to exclude the pavilion from the annual festival because of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

“The people that run that pavilion are part of a group in Winnipeg who are pro-Israel and many of them regularly travel to Israel to show support for the idea — they are not neutral,” she said.

“I don’t know how you can call yourself an Israeli pavilion when they know what the state you are supporting is and what they are doing.”

Jeff Lieberman, president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said the Israeli pavilion has been part of Folklorama since the festival began decades ago.

“The pavilion has always been non-political and one of the more popular pavilions because of our excellent show, food and cultural display.”

Lieberman said protests have become common in recent years.

“The choice to protest outside a Jewish community centre, the heart of Jewish life in Winnipeg, is inappropriate and deeply troubling,” he said. “Such actions create a hostile environment for people simply visiting the centre and cross the line between political expression and targeting an entire faith community.

“This intimidation must stop. We call on government authorities and law enforcement to ensure the safety of all who come to our pavilion and to protect the right of our community to celebrate our culture free from harassment or fear.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca