Vancouver’s police chief Adam Palmer said Friday his department is stepping up street patrols over the weekend and into next week in anticipation of planned public protests and demonstrations marking the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israeli citizens — and subsequent growing war in the Middle East.
“In the coming days, you will see a significant and visible police presence throughout our city,” said Palmer at a press conference, adding, “we'll also be working behind the scenes with officers that you will not see to assess and re-assess potential risks, to respond immediately to emerging threats, and to share intelligence with our local, national and international public safety partners.”
The chief said the downtown core will see increased congestion, and with a number of protests planned, “there is significant likelihood of disorder and traffic delays.”
Palmer said the Middle East conflict has resulted in numerous public demonstrations over the past year and “while the majority of these gatherings have been lawful and peaceful, others have been extremely volatile. We've seen violence, hostility, assaults on police officers and members of the public, and incidents of hate during some of these events.”
Past synagogue arson informs police response for Oct.7 protests
Among specific measures Palmer mentioned to media, police will stage extra patrols in and around SkyTrain stations in conjunction with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
Uniformed school liaison officers will be positioned at “some faith-based schools” during pickup and drop-off times on Oct. 7.
Palmer also said police will set up a mobile command centre outside the Jewish Community Centre at Oak Street and West 41st Avenue.
And, said Palmer, police will also set up cameras outside synagogues — this after one was set fire to on May 31.
It was that arson that was one of three concerning acts of anti-Semitism Palmer cited.
Others include “the hateful and appalling language from a protester at the Vancouver Art Gallery who praised the attacks on Israel and referred to terrorist organizations as heroes, and the recent assault of a young woman just last week who was knocked to the ground, dragged and subjected to anti-Semitic slurs when she attended a protest.”
Palmer added that “members of our Muslim and West Asian communities are also hurting; for some, their sense of safety and belonging has been impacted by Islamophobia — things like hateful encounters with strangers and hurtful graffiti written on walls of schools and community centres."
“To be clear, we serve everyone in our community,” added Palmer.
What is being planned is a series of public events co-organized by pro-Hamas group Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, an international organization that is banned in Germany.
The organization has non-profit group status in Canada, a country that has listed Iran-backed Hamas as a terrorist organization for using the Gaza Strip as a base for terror attacks against Israel.
On Saturday, the group, which has long claimed Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, will rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery. On Monday, Oct. 7, it will stage an “exhibition and art” on the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation of Oct. 7, 2023, also referred to in Israel as Black Shabbat or the Simchat Torah Massacre.
One Samidoun poster depicts a paramilitary combatant flying on a parachute with an automatic rifle.
Then, on Tuesday (Oct. 8), Samidoun is calling on supporters to “pack the court for Charlotte!” in reference to Samidoun organizer and director Charlotte Kates, who was arrested in April as part of a hate speech investigation by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).
Pro-Hamas protest organizer can't attend Oct.7 rally
Since her arrest, Kates has an undertaking to not attend any protests before her Oct. 8 court appearance.
In the meantime, Samidoun has reported Kates “was one of several international figures honoured with the 8th annual Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity Award in Tehran, Iran,” on Aug. 4.
It is unclear if Kates has been charged with any crime and what her court appearance is specifically about; Court Services Online shows no appearance date or charges under Kates’ name.
According to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Kates faces allegations of public incitement of hatred and wilful promotion of hatred pursuant to the Criminal Code.
Nevertheless, Kates’ high-profile arrest and protesters publicly celebrating the Oct. 7 attack has furthered debate on what constitutes a hate crime and civil liberties.
The association has claimed there is a danger “of conflating criticism of the state of Israel and support for Palestinian liberation as anti-Semitic or hateful towards Judaism or Jewish people.”
And, noted the association, “Ms. Kates was made subject to a release order that restricts her Charter rights for at least five months without judicial scrutiny.”
74 criminal investigations
Ultimately, it is up to police investigators to recommend criminal charges and whether such charges are, as noted by the Justice Department, “motivated by hate, based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor.”
Palmer said in relation to the protests concerning the Middle East conflict, his department has undertaken 74 criminal investigations and recommended 47 criminal charges to Crown Counsel to date.
Glacier Media asked Palmer if merely praising the Oct. 7 attack is a hate crime.
“Well, it depends, like, every case is different. It depends what the person is saying. There's some things that you can say and other things you can't say. So, it really will depend what the person is saying and what they're advocating for and the very specific nature of their comments,” said Palmer.
“Hate crime is a very complicated area of law, and I think sometimes the public may misconstrue what's hate crime and what's not hate crime,” said Palmer.
Jewish community to mark solemn day with candles, says leader
Meanwhile, as for the Jewish community, Nico Slobinsky, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, told Glacier Media various Jewish groups intend to stage a community-wide candlelit vigil on Oct. 7.
Slobinsky said he is unaware of any planned counter protest to Samidoun.
