"I particularly commend your decision to center the lived experiences and concerns of demonstrators, including their chants, symbolism, and expressions of grief and outrage at the ongoing genocide and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. By including direct quotes and outlining their motivations, you offered readers an authentic understanding of why so many Canadians are demanding that Palestine be treated as a core election issue. This is critical journalism that resists the silencing of Palestinian narratives."
April 15, 2025
To:
Paula Tran, Reporter, The Ottawa Citizen
Nicole Feriancek, Editor in Chief, The Ottawa Citizen
Dear Ms. Tran,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to sincerely thank you for your article, “Pro-Palestinian rally in Ottawa calls for election campaign discussion of Israel-Hamas conflict,” published on April 12, 2025.
I wish to thank Ms. Tran for their reporting’s accuracy, clarity, and balance. By documenting one of the largest pro-Palestinian protests in Ottawa with care and detail, you provided your readers with a comprehensive and respectful account of a growing political movement demanding justice and accountability.
I particularly commend your decision to center the lived experiences and concerns of demonstrators, including their chants, symbolism, and expressions of grief and outrage at the ongoing genocide and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. By including direct quotes and outlining their motivations, you offered readers an authentic understanding of why so many Canadians are demanding that Palestine be treated as a core election issue. This is critical journalism that resists the silencing of Palestinian narratives.
Moreover, your article rightly platformed the voices of civil society and grassroots groups such as the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Palestine Solidarity Network, and Amnesty International, rather than relying solely on political elites or official government perspectives. In doing so, you humanized peaceful protesters and challenged the dangerous stereotype that Palestinian advocacy is inherently radical or violent.
Finally, I appreciate that your reporting did not censor or sanitize the language used by demonstrators. By including references to “genocide,” “ethnic cleansing,” and “collective punishment,” your article helped to convey the gravity of the situation in Gaza and the urgency that compels so many Canadians to speak out. These terms reflect the devastating impact of Israel’s ongoing military campaign.
Thank you once again for your balanced and courageous reporting.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)