Vancouver Police Investigate October 7 Rally After ‘Death to Canada’ Chants Erupt

Vancouver Police have launched an investigation into a pro-Palestinian protest that took place at the Vancouver Art Gallery on October 7. The event, organized by Samidoun, commemorated the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel but sparked outrage due to speeches that allegedly expressed solidarity with terrorist groups.

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During the protest, a masked speaker identified themselves with both Hezbollah and Hamas, groups listed as terrorist entities by Public Safety Canada. The speaker went further by chanting “death to Canada, death to the United States, and death to Israel,” stirring major public outcry. The burning of Canadian flags during the rally added to the offense, prompting reactions from political figures at both provincial and federal levels.

In response, Vancouver Police released a statement confirming that they are investigating whether any actions at the protest amounted to criminal behavior. The police acknowledged that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees free speech, but stressed that many in the community found the actions “intolerable, offensive, and unsafe.”

“We have heard from community members, and others, who are deeply offended,” the VPD stated via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The statement also warned that burning materials in a crowded place poses a significant safety risk and could result in legal consequences for those involved.

The rally marked the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to a devastating conflict. According to local health officials, the war has claimed more than 41,000 lives in Gaza so far.

The protest’s inflammatory rhetoric drew widespread condemnation from political leaders, particularly within the Conservative Party. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre vowed that his party, if elected, would officially add Samidoun to Canada’s terrorist entity list.

“While Jewish Canadians live in fear, terror groups like Samidoun are free to fundraise and support organizations like Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP),” Poilievre said in a statement. He criticized the current government for failing to act, stating that these groups should not be allowed to operate freely in Canada.

During Tuesday’s question period in Parliament, Conservative MPs pressed the government to take immediate action against Samidoun. Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman argued that the group’s actions—burning the Canadian flag and calling for the death of Canadians—should be enough to justify its addition to the terrorist list.

“If this isn’t enough to ban them, then what will it take?” Lantsman questioned, pointing to Samidoun’s alleged ties with already-designated terrorist organizations.

However, Jennifer O’Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Public Safety Minister, responded that decisions on terrorist designations are not political and must be based on assessments from national security agencies. She assured that the matter is currently under urgent review.

Samidoun director Charlotte Kates has been a focal point of controversy in the past. Last year, Kates was arrested by Vancouver Police as part of a hate-crime investigation, following her praise of the Hamas attacks as “heroic and brave.” Though she was released, her continued involvement in such rallies has drawn criticism from various political leaders.