🍉 VanGran4Pal Community Updates + Events This Weekend
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**Neighbours and Friends, **
We have had an active couple of weeks at Van Gran 4 Pal, starting with a great turn out at our strategic meeting on April 7. We had an opportunity to discuss the successes of our recent efforts and our ongoing strategies. Upon completion of our meeting we shared an Iftar potluck with our team and were able to connect with each other in our diverse community. We reaffirmed our collective goals to advocate for Palestinians and insist our government officials stop supporting and arming an apartheid country conducting a genocide. It was really inspiring to have people from all walks of life coming together in support of the Palestinian cause.
While we have been dissatisfied with Van Gran Liberal MP Taleeb’s lack of support for Palestinians, we’d like it to be clear that our focus is not on the support or weakening of any particular party. Rather, we will advocate support for any future MP candidate(s) who support the Palestinian cause. It was clear that whilst many MPs within the Liberal Party were willing to support the NDP motion as initially drafted, Taleeb was not one of them. As such, we will not stand by Taleeb and we encourage our community to continue contacting his office and let it be known that Palestine is and will remain an election issue for us.
This month, Van Gran 4 Palestine also organised a sombre gathering of Palestinians and allied activists to share and hold each others’ individual pain arising from the 76 years of occupation and the genocide in Gaza. The diverse group of attendees shared their connections to Palestine, cried together over the unspeakable atrocities and their shared frustrations, smiled together in hope at the various visions of a free Palestine. We plan to continue hosting circle of solidarity gathering spaces for our community as an outlet to participants’ emotions surrounding the ongoing genocide, and to strengthen solidarity amongst Palestine human rights activists. Keep an eye out for announcements about the next session in our upcoming newsletters!
In global news, there have been ongoing actions taking place including Nicaragua taking Germany to the ICJ for its support for the genocide in Gaza, Turkey’s restriction of 54 products to Israel, including steel, cement and marble which constitutes 50% of all imports of these products to Israel, the BCTF passing a motion to include the Nakba in the BC curriculum and more and more countries like Spain, Slovenia, Ireland and Malta pushing for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Our efforts to keep the focus on Gaza are more important than ever as Israel's attempts to drag the US into a broader conflict have turned the world's focus temporarily away from Gaza. We will continue to build awareness, advocate for the rights of the Palestinians and hold our elected leaders accountable for their actions.
Upcoming Events
Pop Up Bazaar For Palestine - April 20th
There is a pop up bazaar on Saturday April 20th from 4pm - 9pm at 1803 East 1st Avenue, with all proceeds going to Gaza and local Palestinian community efforts. There will be many items for sale including Palestinian keffiyehs, art, fashion, accessories and souvenirs. Cash is preferred and please mask up! This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Van Bike 4 Palestine - Various Dates
Van Bike 4 Palestine is a friendly group that organizes regular bike rallies to support Palestinian Human Rights. Follow them on Instagram to stay up-to-date with their rally dates and meeting locations.
**March for Palestine - April 20th **
Meet at 1pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday, April 20th to join the march for Palestine. Join hundreds of friends, neighbours and community members as we peacefully gather to walk together. “Today and every day the resistance still lives”.
Community Spotlight
Contributed by Naomi Plant
Community member Naomi recently used balloons she had leftover from an event to re-purpose with messages of support and love for Palestine, which she then tacked to her community noticeboard. Installations such as this, whether they are posters in windows, buttons on jackets, or stickers that are visible in communities, keep people talking and thinking about Palestine.
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With gratitude and in solidarity,
Your Neighbours
Van Gran 4 Palestine
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