The June 13th #ArmsEmbargoNow Day of Action marks the start of a summer push to end Canada’s arms trade with Israel
On Thursday, June 13th, constituents of 45 MPs paid visits to their riding offices, demanding that they call for a full and immediate arms embargo on Israel. The delegations — part of a national #ArmsEmbargoNow Day of Action — carried giant versions of the #ArmsEmbargoNow statement for MPs to sign.
Constituents rallied, chanted, and called on their MPs to do everything in their power to cut the flow of weapons to and from Israel, from Yellowknife to Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke to Central Nova, and Victoria to Saint John-Rothesay.
A number of delegations were met by police or private security as they attempted to deliver the sign-on letter to their elected representatives; others found that their MP’s staff had closed the office for the day in response to the announcement of their visit.
As of July 14th, 20 of 155 Liberal, 22 of 24 NDP and both Green MPs have signed-on to an abbreviated version of the statement, which acknowledges the catastrophe caused by Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, and calls on the Canadian government to impose a full and immediate arms embargo on Israel.
Five Liberal MPs, Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre), Sean Casey (Charlottetown), Chad Collins (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek), Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport), and Helena Jaczek (Markham), broke rank from the party line and signed-on to the statement in the days leading up to the national #ArmsEmbargoNow Day of Action. MP Jaczek signed on just hours before a protest at her office was scheduled to occur.
“Today’s actions put MPs who still have not signed on to the demand for a two-way arms embargo with Israel on notice: When Parliament rises later this month, you can expect your constituents to continue raising the demand at barbecues, picnics, and other public events throughout the summer. We aren’t going on holiday until Canada imposes a full arms embargo on Israel, and you will have no peace in your ridings until Palestine is free,” said Emma Jackson of the Palestine Solidarity Network. (more...)
Delegations Visit MP Offices Across Canada to Demand a Full Arms Embargo on Israel
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