Statement on Palestine
Ceasefire now! All eyes on Gaza! Free Palestine Now!
Today is March 17, 2024. It has been 163 days since the start of the current bombardment of Gaza. It has been 163 days of mourning. We are witnessing unfathomable, extreme violence against the Palestinian people. Any attempt at accounting for the true scale of death and injury is feeble in the realities of a collapsing healthcare system, famine, and the (complete)destruction of Gaza. Current estimates from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) stand at over 70,000 injured and 30,000 dead in Gaza. For every story shared there are tens of thousands more.
Halifax Pride reaffirms our commitment to solidarity with the Palestinian Liberation movement. We call for an immediate ceasefire, and demand the creation of a free (state of) Palestine. As board members, staff, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community we have an obligation to clearly uphold our values of liberation, anti-oppression and anti-racism on a local, national, and global scale. Our staff, Board, and community continue to participate in global actions in support of an immediate ceasefire, arms embargo, and Palestinian liberation.
Halifax Pride's Commitment to Solidarity
Our commitment to standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people and nurturing inter-community relationships, coalitions, Halifax Pride denounces the imperialist settler-colonial and military occupation of Palestinian land by the militaristic State of Israel. Halifax Pride condemns the genocide of the Palestinian people. Our land acknowledgements within the Halifax Pride Society and festival must be more than words. They must demonstrate our obligation to amplify calls for Land Back on a global scale. We witness continued silence as the violence expands outside of the borders of the Gaza Strip (and the West Bank) and into surrounding territories. Resulting, we witness countless communities destroyed,immeasurable environmental devastation, and the attempted eradication of one of the world’s oldest cultures and civilizations
A Call for Community Response
Halifax Pride exists directly as a result ofQueer and Trans liberation movement(s); movements that center unconditional and unwavering solidarity throughout their histories. We, as an organization and as individuals, must continue our learning from this historical practice. Our community once said that "silence equals death." We refuse to participate in that silence. Nobody is free until we are all free! Solidarity is non-transactional. Solidarity is necessary. Our liberation will forever be connected.
We call for an end to the occupation of Palestine. We call for end to the genocide of the Palestinian people. We call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
A Call to Action: The Next Step
On Monday March 18th, the House of Commons will debate and vote on Canada’s response to the genocide in Gaza. This motion calls for an arms embargo on Israel, a permanent ceasefire, and a recognition of (a State of) Palestine. It is vital that we respond collectively and lobby our local MP’s that the only option is to vote “yes” on this motion.
After Monday, please continue to follow local and global actions of solidarity. Below are organizations and chapters local to Kjikpuktuk/Canada to follow and amplify:
ac_palestinesociety / freepalestinehalifax / queersagainstfascism / palestine.solidarity.halifax / labour4palestinehalifax / Independent Jewish Voices / palsolidaritycad/ palestinianyouthmovement
We encourage community seek out organizations and individuals engaging in liberatory work in their institutions: unions, student collectives, community leaders. Show up for them. Show up for Palestine.
