In a powerful display of solidarity, writers from across Canada and beyond have come together to support the pro-Palestine protesters who disrupted the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize gala on November 13th, 2023 in Toronto. Sarah Bernstein, this year’s Scotiabank Gilbert Prize winner, is among the 1,700 writers who have signed an open letter expressing their unwavering support for the demonstrators.
The protest aimed to draw attention to Scotiabank’s substantial $500 million stake in Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer, with Scotiabank being the largest foreign shareholder of the company. As the protesters raised their voices against this involvement, they faced a hostile audience and were forcibly removed from the gala. After the event concluded, reports emerged that they had been detained by the police for a harrowing three hours, now facing legal charges.
Read: Palestine protesters disrupt Scotiabank book prize over ‘Israel weapons ties’
In the open letter, the writers and publishers state: “We stand with the protesters, and we urge that the charges against them be dropped. And we join our voices with hundreds of thousands of protesters across Canada who are decrying the unfolding genocide happening in Gaza and Palestine.”
“We ask all of our literary institutions to be loud where our governments and news outlets have been silent: to call for a ceasefire.”
The letter goes on to highlight the dire situation in Gaza and Palestine, emphasising the severe humanitarian crisis. The writers lament the cutoff of essential services such as water, electricity, and communication to Gaza, the significant loss of Palestinian lives—over 11,000, with the majority being civilians and non-combatants—and the destruction of critical infrastructure, including Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza.
The writers express their concern, particularly for the more than 4,000 children who have tragically lost their lives in this conflict, stating that this has been the deadliest attack on children in recent times. They call for a consistent approach from government officials and institutions in addressing the suffering of Palestinian civilians, similar to their response to previous incidents.
Furthermore, the writers point out their reliance on literary institutions like the Scotiabank Giller Prize for their livelihoods. They urge these institutions to use their platforms to call for a ceasefire, condemn the collective punishment of Palestinians, and address the war crimes committed by the Israeli government. The writers also call upon these institutions to exert pressure on the Canadian government to cease military funding and diplomatic support for Israel.
Read: Hiba Kamal Abu Nada: Palestinian poet killed in Gaza
In a poignant plea, the open letter demands the release of all hostages, both Israeli hostages and the 5,000 Palestinian civilians, including 170 children, who are illegally incarcerated in Israeli prisons. Finally, they implore Israel to put an end to the 75-year occupation of Palestine and ensure that artists within their purview are protected from censure for speaking out.
The solidarity demonstrated by these writers and publishers underscores the growing international concern for the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Palestine, bringing the plight of the region’s inhabitants to the forefront of public discourse.
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