Solidarity from Winnipeg to Gaza

On January 26, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) determined that South Africa’s case against Israel, for the heinous crime of genocide, would proceed to trial – thereby further confirming for all the world the legitimacy of South Africa’s claim. This monumental ruling by the ICJ denied Israel’s counterclaim that the court did not have jurisdiction to try such a case and denied any merit to Israel’s flimsy, broken, and false arguments that it was not in fact leading a genocide of the Palestinian people. This ruling represents an unprecedented shift in geopolitics and a major blow to the narratives of imperialism and Zionism, narratives whose unravelling continues to accelerate.

One day following the ruling, the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) organized a Pan-Canadian Day of Action in solidarity with Palestine and the Palestinian people. Similar rallies have been organized by CPAM every weekend since Israel began its most recent mass slaughter campaign in Gaza – now in its fifth month of attacks. The demands of the majority of Canadians were clearly presented by speakers at the rally. In front of the main entrance to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), speakers expressed the need for Members of Parliament, particularly governing party Liberal MPs, to respect international law and adhere to the ruling of the ICJ: to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide.

A large crowd was gathered, decorated in keffiyehs, waving Palestinian flags, and holding signs expressing their support for the Palestinian struggle. I spoke to this crowd as a member of Labour for Palestine Winnipeg, the local chapter of the pan-Canadian organization of labour activists across Canada who have been organizing actions with and within labour unions, in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinian workers, for years. In this speech, I made clear the necessity of a ceasefire – and not just any ceasefire, but one that lasts and includes an end to the humanitarian crisis afflicting Gaza as a result of Israel’s decades long siege and occupation. I also spoke of the need to end “business as usual” between Canada and Israel – a disgusting practice which makes Canada complicit in and profiting from Israel’s genocide, using our labour to achieve this.

I also made note of the stories we’ve heard from workers who had reached out to Labour for Palestine in recent weeks and months. There has been case after case of suppression and disciplinary measures directed toward workers speaking out against Israel’s genocide and in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Shamefully, unacceptably, but perhaps unsurprisingly, most cases have been experienced by racialized people, particularly Muslim people, and primarily Muslim women. This suppression is unfortunately not exclusive to the workplace. The University of Manitoba recently carried out its own suppression when it suspended Arij Al Khafagi, president of the Nursing Students’ Association, after she made social media posts condemning Israel’s attacks on Palestinians. The University threw false accusations of anti-Semitism her way in an attempt to silence her for standing against genocide. Fortunately, over two months later, Arij has been reinstated after winning her hard-fought case against the University. Her victory is an inspiration to us students of conscience to never accept censorship of our goal of justice!

The rally at the CMHR was to be followed by a car rally. The route had been planned and vehicles had been decorated in Palestinian symbols of liberation. However, upon learning of a march organized to demand justice for Afolabi Opaso – a 19-year old Nigerian student studying economics at the University of Manitoba, who’d been murdered by Winnipeg police on New Year’s Eve – the car rally was reorganized and the energy transferred to show solidarity with the cause for respecting Black lives.

In a strong show of solidarity between political movements, the rally embarked from the CMHR and made their way to Union Station, joining protestors demanding Afolabi’s life be honoured and justice delivered. Leaders from the two movements met, spoke, and expressed their connection in their separate but ultimately shared fight against oppression. The march progressed from Union Station to the Legislative Building, where further speeches took place. The marchers then headed to the Winnipeg Police headquarters to make their voices heard by the violent cops they were rightfully accusing of murder.

Our communities must continue to come together to reject the racist police’s terrible indifference towards Black lives. They must also continue to show up and support the struggle for Palestinian liberation. And, as we saw on this day, progressive movements must come together to make clear that our struggles are connected and that our strength together is a force that terrifies oppressors, no matter where in the world they are – from Winnipeg to Gaza.

No justice, no peace!