pro-Palestine rally gathers outside MP Brendan Hanley's office. Photo Courtesy: Macklen Linke
Whitehorse, YT – As the conflict in Gaza enters its 101st day some Whitehorse Residents gathered outside Mp Brenden Hanley’s office today to show their opposition to the latest developments in Yemen and the Middle East
The rally comes as Canada has endorsed targeted strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen undertaken by US & UK coalition forces in a bid to put an end to the Houthi’s ongoing campaign of attacks on merchant and commercial vessels.
Robin Reid-Fraser, the organizer of the rally, notes that the Houthi’s have enacted a blockade in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestine while condemning Canada’s response.
“Instead of prioritizing stopping the atrocity that is taking place. They are prioritizing businesses and profit and the economy,” said Reid-Fraser. “We think that saving people’s lives should be the highest priority. Far over allowing global trade to happen as normal.”
A little over half a dozen protesters chanted various pro-Palestine chants including the quote, “dollars for housing and education. Not war and occupation” and carried signs urging for a ceasefire
Reid-Fraser says this rally, among other things, is urging Canada to back South Africa in its International Court of Justice case in arguing Israel is committing genocide against Gaza.
“Canada issued a pretty wishy-washy statement about that saying, ‘Oh, well, we do believe in international law on all of that. But we don’t think that this case against Israel was founded.’ So one of the things that we are here to say is that we believe that Canada should take a much more principled stance against Israel’s actions against this genocide that’s taking place in Gaza,” said Reid-Fraser.
The Canadian Government has said it supports the International Court but would not back the genocide accusation put forth by South Africa.
