News Release, May 17, 2019
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 18 people will join together from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland to mark a Cross Country Day of Action to name Canadian complicity in regard to war crimes and apartheid by the state of Israel on the people of Palestine.
These events commemorate seventy-one years since the original Nakba which saw the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland and recognize the ongoing colonization of remaining Palestine in similar pattern of Judaization of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the total siege and destruction of Gaza.
Events have happened during the week including a vigil last Sunday in Montreal. Tomorrow, street actions and other events are planned across the country including for Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Saint John and St. John’s.
The Day of Action enjoys the support of dozens of labour unions, anti-war, social justice, faith, community and political organizations. The day of action supports boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Israeli state and economy, until: the occupation with its associated war crimes is ended; the apartheid regime is replaced with equal rights for all citizens within Israel and Palestine; and the right of return is realized for Palestinian.
The majority of Canadians agree that Canada needs to take action under its responsibility under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In this regard, a 2017 EKOS poll showed that two-thirds of Canadians support sanctions being placed by Canada on Israel in regard to international law and human rights violations.
The Canadian BDS Coalition includes national, regional and local groups from across the country.
Contact: bdscoalition@gmail.com