The recent escalation of the Palestinian conflict is the crisis of a generation. Likewise, protesting Palestinian genocide warrants escalating beyond rallies at the Legislature.
Two dozen Palestinian supporters rallied at Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Randall Garrison‘s office in Victoria, demanding their representative denounce the Israeli onslaught and support a ceasefire, amid a massive humanitarian crisis that has sharply divided public opinion and mobilised the masses worldwide.
The rally was held in coordination with a national campaign of Palestinian solidarity sit-ins targeting 17 different MPs’ offices, including that of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. It also follows a wave of rallies at the Legislature, the latest held just yesterday.
In contrast to some other affiliated rallies elsewhere in the country, this one saw no police intervention. The office apparently decided to weather the storm hoping it would pass without incident. Besides, only a few protesters actually occupied the space, and then only the entrance, the rest picketing outside, so actual disruption was minimal.
The participants particularly objected to the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, many of whom children, some whose portraits were displayed alongside claims their murder had been carried out using weapons paid for by Western taxpayers. They demanded an immediate ceasefire and the end of the Israeli blockade preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza strip.
I am not aware that Randall Garrison himself spoke to the protesters. Instead, an employee came at the counter about thirty minutes before closure in order to inquire about their intentions. Participants had already elected to withdraw peacefully by then, and disengaged without incident.
The organisers of this ad hoc event announced more direct action to follow before dispersing. Details have yet to be announced.
I had big plans to bring good fights to the City of Victoria, but I have to put them on…
Here's the latest chapter in the judicial saga opposing unhoused residents of CRAB Park and the Vancouver Park Board.
As the crisis widens in the Middle East, a broader fight has been looming against the Zionist regime, and this…
Lately a lot of you people have been getting under my skin and I've been itching to write about it.…
While the encampment has been defeated, UVic students are still fighting their institution until it divests from the genocide in…
Protesting on the anniversary of an assault that made over a thousand victims is obviously a delicate undertaking, but critics…
