Building on the collective statement of many groups in Canada – including the BC Civil Liberties Association, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Independent Jewish Voices Canada, Palestinian Youth Movement, Canadian BDS Coalition, U.S. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers – the Canada Palestine Association and Just Peace Advocates have launched a letter-writing campaign to Canadian Minister of Public Security Bill Blair against attacks on Samidoun and Palestine organizing by Israel lobby groups in Canada.
Take action and join the campaign – send a letter to Bill Blair!
As noted in the campaign, “On February 3, 2021, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Advocacy CIJA called for Samidoun to be placed on Canada’s terror list. This was included in their statement responding to the announcement by Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, that Canada was adding 13 groups to Canada’s list of Terrorist Entities. Then, on February 28, 2021, the same day Israel stated they were designating Samidoun as “terrorist”, CIJA tweeted to Bill Blair saying that Canada should now follow Israel’s lead and do the same…
This criminalization of Palestinian advocacy is unacceptable and unfounded; Palestinian-Canadians and their supporters have no intention of allowing biased officials to suppress their democratic rights and their voices. We will continue to work for justice and equality for Palestinians, be it through prisoner support or boycott campaigns; we will not allow our guaranteed rights to free expression and association to be threatened or curtailed.”