Surprising that your article does not acknowledge the active participation of Pride committees in supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza through their sponsorships

"The article’s focus on the reactions of Ottawa’s Jewish community without mention of the broader context of the situation in Gaza, where the population is violently being assaulted and going through a genocide at the hands of the Israeli state, is not fair. This context is crucial to understanding the motivations behind pro-Palestinian support at Pride events. The now ten-month genocide in the Gaza Strip, marked by a devastating blockade and frequent military assaults, has galvanized many within the LGBTQ+ community to stand in solidarity with Palestinians."


August 9, 2024 
To:

Nicole Feriancek, Editor-in-Chief, Ottawa Citizen

Ken Warren, Reporter, Ottawa Citizen

 

Dear Ms. Feriancek and Mr. Warren,

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express my concerns regarding your article titled "Capital Pride’s pro-Palestinian messaging alarms Ottawa’s Jewish community," published on August 8, 2024. While the article attempts to present a balanced view by quoting Pride organizers and seeking comments from a Jewish perspective, the article is still unbalanced.

The article’s focus on the reactions of Ottawa’s Jewish community without mention of the broader context of the situation in Gaza, where the population is violently being assaulted and going through a genocide at the hands of the Israeli state, is not fair. This context is crucial to understanding the motivations behind pro-Palestinian support at Pride events. The now ten-month genocide in the Gaza Strip, marked by a devastating blockade and frequent military assaults, has galvanized many within the LGBTQ+ community to stand in solidarity with Palestinians. By omitting this context, the article fails to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of why these messages resonate so strongly, particularly from a marginalized community with a strong record of advocating for human rights.

Also, it’s surprising that your article does not acknowledge the active participation of Pride committees in supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza through their sponsorships. This is the main reason why pro-Palestinian protests are taking place at Pride events across Canada. 

According to a detailed report by The Breach, several Pride organizations have accepted sponsorships from corporations and entities that are complicit in or directly benefit from Israel’s military siege on Gaza. These sponsorships have sparked significant backlash within the queer community, leading to widespread calls for Pride organizations to divest from these relationships which clearly violate human rights. The exclusion of this information is so glaringly irresponsible on behalf of Mr. Warren. The lack of research or even an attempt at contextualizing what has been happening at Pride events across Canada means the Ottawa Citizen is presenting an incomplete picture of why these protests are occurring and what they signify for many LGBTQ+ activists.

Additionally, your article references disruptions at other Pride parades across Canada, including an incident in Vancouver where you assert “masked” protesters stopped the parade. This description is misleading as it paints all the protesters in a menacing light without substantiating whether this was indeed the case. As you can see in an article by the right-wing Rebel News, not all of the protesters were masked. This is further confirmed in a Tweet with photos from the event. A more detailed and factual recount of these events is necessary to avoid perpetuating negative stereotypes about pro-Palestinian activists as being terrorist sympathizers or inherent threats to Canadian democracy. Unfortunately, most Canadian media have framed these protesters as the latter including the Ottawa Citizen. Again, it is your responsibility to avoid such framing to adhere to reporting standards.

I strongly urge you to revise the article to include the broader context of the genocide in Gaza, the controversy surrounding Pride sponsorships, and the motivations behind the pro-Palestinian protests at pride events across Canada. Additionally, I recommend incorporating more diverse perspectives from the LGBTQ+ community who support Palestinian rights, ensuring that all sides of this important issue are fairly represented.

 

I await your response, 

Sincerely,  

Anthony Issa  

Media Analyst  

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East