This morning (11/16/23), hundreds of Montrealers blocked the Jacques-Cartier bridge in response to the call to Shut it down for Palestine and demand Prime Minister Justin Trudeau call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This action is one of many demonstrations, economic disruptions, and occupations to stop business-as-usual in the face of the genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza.
Hundreds of people denounce Canada’s complicity in Palestinian genocide
“We are here in solidarity with Gaza because we cannot be silent and let business-as-usual continue while Prime Minister Trudeau and Mélanie Joly, whose ridings are in our city, provide ongoing diplomatic and material support for the relentless bombing of a besieged population of 2.2 million Palestinians, that has been under a 16-year blockade and a 56-year occupation. We must do our part to put an end to Israel’s genocidal campaign against Palestinians,” said Rachel Barker, one of the participants.
Over the past month, more than 11,000 people have been killed, including at least 4200 children in Gaza. Almost 1.6 million people, most of whom are refugees, have been forcibly displaced across the Gaza Strip, while attacks have multiplied against Palestinians in the West Bank, killing 185 people, injuring 2500 and uprooting at least 15 communities.
“This a second Nakba. Drastic action is called for,” added Barker.
“Hospitals, ambulances, refugee camps, schools have been bombed, a complete siege is depriving the population of Gaza from water, fuel, food, electricity, communication, healthcare, with the support of our government. In Gaza, a child is killed every ten minutes. As health workers, we have a moral responsibility to act to stop this genocide,” said Adam Barnes, a physician taking part in the action.
Today’s action highlights Canada’s complicity and support for Israeli Apartheid, including a major increase in military exports, direct military support, on-going diplomatic support, and opposing the International Criminal Court’s prosecution of Israel for the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution.
“Through economic disruptions and occupations, we interrupt our complicity in the on-going killing of Palestinians. The “shared values” that are often trumpeted as the core of Canada’s alliance to Israel include the commitment to maintaining colonized populations in a state of fear and subjugation through settler colonialism. Our action is grounded in the fact that from Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) to Palestine, occupation is a crime,” said Heba Shabi.
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