Open Letter in Support of Charlotte Kates and the Right to Free Expression

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, stand in solidarity with Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, and with all those who advocate for Palestinian liberation. This letter addresses the troubling implications of the response to Charlotte Kates’s speech during a rally in Vancouver on April 26th, and the broader issue of freedom of speech in Canada.

Recently, a video capturing Charlotte Kates proclaiming “Long live October 7th” at a public rally went viral, drawing significant attention and controversy. Only a few days after this incident, while returning home from the Palestine solidarity encampment at the University of British Columbia, Charlotte was apprehended by officers from the Vancouver Police Department. She was charged with “public incitement of hatred” and “willful promotion of hatred,” questioned for two hours, and subsequently released with stringent conditions that barred her from attending any further protests, demonstrations, and assemblies.

Crucially, the viral video did not present Charlotte’s full speech, omitting essential context that is pivotal for fully understanding her statements. The week before her arrest, a video featuring a teenager at a rally for Palestine—declaring that “October 7th has brought us closer to liberation”—also went viral and was met with widespread condemnation from Canadian politicians.

In her speech, Charlotte sought to challenge and expose the hypocrisy of Canadian political leaders who are quick to condemn acts of Palestinian resistance and the Canadians who support them but remain disturbingly silent about the ongoing genocide against Palestinians. Charlotte’s words were a deliberate act of solidarity with those who face vilification and punitive actions for supporting Palestinian rights, including Natalie Knight, who was terminated from Langara College under pressure from political and community leaders due to her stance on the legitimacy of Palestinian armed struggle.

In this open letter, we aim to clarify the context behind the charges against Charlotte Kates, highlight the double standards inherent in the political and legal treatment of Palestinian solidarity, discuss the significance of October 7th, and assert the fundamental right to freedom of speech. Additionally, we reveal the concerning evidence that these actions are part of a targeted political campaign, which raises serious questions about the misuse of political power to suppress legitimate advocacy.

Our goal with this letter is not merely to inform but to actively dispel the smears and intimidation that the media and politicians use to silence advocates for Palestinian liberation. The pattern of punishing advocates one by one must end. We must stand together, united in our resolve to ensure that voices for Palestinian liberation are not stifled but amplified.

By standing firm against attempts to silence, intimidate, smear and criminalize advocates for Palestinian liberation, we safeguard the fundamental rights of advocacy and free expression, and uphold the principles of dignity and justice for all.

1. Highlighting Double Standards

In Canada, a significant double standard exists in the treatment of those who support Palestinian liberation compared to those who support Israel. It is not only permissible but often admired to express support for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), an organization that the International Court of Justice has ruled is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza. Fundraisers, public rallies, and university talks openly supporting the IDF are commonplace and encouraged, despite the substantial and well-documented evidence of the IDF’s involvement in the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians and the long-standing Israeli siege that has devastated Gaza. Furthermore, there are multiple Canadian-recognized charities that actively fund this force and promote the enrollment of ‘lone soldiers.’ Despite documented instances of the Israeli consulate and others in Canada recruiting individuals to join the Israeli occupation forces, the Canadian government has consistently refused to press charges.

Moreover, Canadian politicians frequently promote the legitimacy of the Israeli state, echoing the rhetoric of ‘Israel’s right to defend itself’, which in practice has translated into the brutal killing of innocent Palestinians. This position is reinforced through formal agreements such as the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This rhetoric, often parroted by figures including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier David Eby, serves to obscure the legitimacy of the Palestinian people’s right to resist occupation and genocide.

Let us be unequivocal: there can be no legitimate comparison between the Palestinian resistance—which is a recognized right under international law for peoples confronting foreign occupation and colonialism—and the Israeli occupation forces. The latter have no right to attack the Palestinian civilian population, much less carry out the genocidal acts currently witnessed in Gaza.

2. The Significance of October 7th

Referring to “Long Live October 7th,” Charlotte Kates was not celebrating violence against civilians but commemorating a significant day of resistance against the colonization and the brutal military occupation of Palestine. This date is viewed by many as a symbol of resilience and the struggle for self-determination, akin to other celebrated moments of resistance in history.

For many Palestinian people and their supporters, October 7 represents a breaking point against the brutal two-decade-long siege of Gaza, an act of reclaiming land unjustly taken, and a challenge to the apartheid conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation.

In fact, with over 70% of Palestinians in Gaza being refugees denied their right to return home since 1948, October 7th marked a profound moment for many—some were present for the first time in 76 years on land that historically belonged to their families, confronting and challenging the narratives that have long denied their rights and existence.

The Al-Aqsa Flood operation, while targeting military sites, was a resounding assertion of the Palestinian right to resist and reclaim agency over their lives and land. It was a moment when, against the odds of a criminal siege, periodic bombings, and an ongoing campaign of assassinations, the Palestinian resistance executed a counter-attack. This operation exposed the fragility and illegitimacy of the occupiers and challenged the narratives spun by their imperialist backers in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and beyond. It was not merely a military engagement but a significant geopolitical statement, demonstrating the resilience and strategic capability of the Palestinian resistance.

Moreover, the international response, often painting the operation as barbaric, seeks to undermine the legitimacy of what is, under international law, recognized as a fight for liberation from foreign occupation and colonialism. This rhetoric of condemnation reveals a double standard when contrasted with the support for entities like the IDF, which, despite their documented role in the mass killings of civilians, are celebrated and funded through official channels and public sentiment in countries including Canada.

We acknowledge the tragic loss of life on all sides and wish for a world where peaceful resolutions are achievable. However, the Palestinian people’s attempts at peaceful protest, like those seen during the Great March of Return, have been met with lethal force, underscoring a harsh reality: the resistance is often left with limited choices. It is crucial to understand the context in which expressions like “Long Live October 7th” arise—they are not calls for violence but cries for recognition, justice, and the right to self-determination in the face of overwhelming adversity.

3. Defense of Freedom of Speech

Finally, the criminalization of Charlotte Kates’s speech under hate crime legislation represents a serious threat to freedom of speech and sets a dangerous precedent for the suppression of political advocacy. It is essential to differentiate between hate speech that incites violence and the expression of solidarity with a people’s struggle for liberation. Charlotte’s words fall squarely within the latter category, emphasizing the need for global awareness and action against ongoing genocide being committed by Israelis against Palestinians.

The arrest of Charlotte Kates transcends individual opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and touches upon the fundamental rights enshrined in democratic societies—the freedom to speak, to dissent, and to advocate for change. The Canadian government’s response to such expressions by threatening legal action and limiting public engagement reflects a broader pattern of using state mechanisms to suppress specific political viewpoints, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights.

Moreover, freedom of speech is not just a fundamental human right but the only peaceful mechanism we have to challenge and influence government actions when we believe they are immoral or unjust.

This principle becomes even more crucial when considering historical parallels where governments, including our closest allies, have been on the wrong side of history. For instance, the U.S., our closest ally, labeled the African National Congress (ANC) a terrorist organization and placed Nelson Mandela on the terrorist watch list until 2008. The ANC, like many resistance movements, engaged in armed struggle—a point of controversy but also a contextually driven choice against systemic oppression. The U.S. was wrong about the ANC, and we believe that Canada and its closest allies are wrong about the Palestinian resistance.

Even if there are differing opinions regarding the occupation of Palestine, it is essential that we stand united in the belief that the government should not dictate which organizations citizens may support.

This issue goes beyond individual policy disagreements and strikes at the heart of what it means to live in a society that values democratic engagement and the right to speak truth to power. Freedom of speech is not merely a liberty; it is our society’s principal means of discovering truth and correcting itself when it has gone astray. By enabling open dialogue and the exchange of diverse viewpoints, it helps us challenge and refine our understanding of justice and human rights. We invite everyone, regardless of their stance on the conflict, to reflect on these issues and to support the principle that freedom of expression must be protected, especially when it is used to challenge and critique government policy and societal norms.

4. Targeted Political Actions

Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize that the actions against Charlotte Kates and the Samidoun network are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, targeted political campaign. A report from the Canadian Jewish News Magazine has shed light on discussions that reveal a troubling backdrop to these actions.

During a meeting with community leaders, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly made commitments to address specific community concerns, including a request to “add the Samidoun organization to Canada’s list of designated terrorist entities” due to its alleged connections to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which has been on Canada’s terrorist list since 2003.

This commitment highlights a concerning use of political power to influence legal and administrative actions against a human rights organization, underlining a significant misuse of legal frameworks intended to suppress legitimate political dissent and advocacy for Palestinian rights. Such revelations call into question the fairness and impartiality of governmental actions and emphasize the need for vigilance and advocacy to protect democratic values and freedom of expression.

Call to Action

We urge authorities to:

• Immediately drop all charges against Charlotte Kates

• Uphold the principles of free expression

• Ensure that advocacy, particularly on behalf of oppressed and marginalized communities, is not criminalized

• Address the double standards in legal treatment of pro-Palestinian advocacy

In standing with Charlotte Kates, we defend not only her right to express her views but also the broader principle of free expression that is vital to the health and vibrancy of any democratic society. We call on all concerned citizens to engage with these issues thoughtfully and to advocate for a balanced and equitable approach to national and international policy.