🍉 VanGran4Pal Community Newsletter
This post was imported from Mailchimp. Some formatting may have been lost in translation.
**Neighbours and Friends, **
In the last edition we concluded our intro by repeating the refrain “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. This has since been demonstrated by the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian and US resident who was arrested by ICE agents for protesting at Columbia University, despite no federal charges being pressed against him. In the UK, protestors were directly told by a police officer that they were allowed to protest for Israel, but not for Palestine.
Governments are trying to manufacture consent for genocide through consistent, biased media campaigns. Pro-Israel bias is deeply entrenched in state-funded media outlets like the BBC and CBC. But their strategy is failing. While they attempt to convince the public that activism for Palestine is anti-Semitic, thousands of Jews have been mobilizing, speaking out and leading pro-Palestine protests. Organisations like Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) tirelessly fight for the cause with both actions and media interviews. Mahmoud Khalil spoke to CNN last year, saying, “As a Palestinian student, I believe that the liberation of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people are intertwined and go hand-in-hand, and you cannot achieve one without the other.” The voices and signs of protesters consistently make it clear that they are protesting against Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, explicitly refusing to conflate Zionism with Judaism. We’ve been mobilizing, sharing, and discussing within our communities, and it’s working—global sentiment is shifting despite government and media bias. This is a movement rooted in love. We will not be manipulated or suppressed.
This week, there are plenty of actions you can attend and ways to speak up for your values. It is a moral imperative, especially in these darkening times, to continue advocating for justice and peace, particularly when the state is attempting to strip away our right to do so. Silence is compliance—stand up for what you believe in!
Action Updates
Get out to a rally!
Get out to a rally!
**Olympic cauldron **
2pm on Saturday March 15th
Whether you haven’t been out to a rally in while, have never been to one, or show up every week… Now feels like a great time to add your voice to the collective in public. These spaces are filled with great people and it is an uplifting experience to collectively advocate for what you believe in. Why not head to Irish 4 Palestine BC’s rally this weekend?
From @Irish4PalestineBC: Please join us this St.Patricks Day weekend, Saturday 15th March 2pm at the Olympic Cauldron. 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver for a family friendly rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their fight for liberation.
Irish4palestineBC called out all Irish-Canadians and Canadians of all background to attendance in protest calling for all US and British weapons out of Irish airports!
There will be no green leprechauns just pure Irish pride against genocide!
As they say in Ireland, tiocfaidh àr là ! (Our day will come) See you Saturday at the Olympic cauldron.🇮🇪🥷🇵🇸
Upcoming Events
Irish4Palestine Fundraiser - Saturday March 15th
🗓 Date: Sat March 15th
⏰ Time: 7:30pm - late
📍Location: Foy’s Irish Bar, 395 Kingsway
From @irish4palestinebc: Our first fundraiser was so successful we decided to have another one. Come along and support a good cause. Buy your tickets early it sold out last time!
Join us for a night of trivia, music, dancing, and fundraising, for an important cause!
Keffiyehs, Irish & Palestinian flags, Soccer Jerseys, and more merch for sale!
ALL PROCEEDS to UNWRA & Tamam’s Gaza Fundraiser
Bike Against Starvation - Sunday March 16th
🗓 Date: Sun March 16th
**⏰ Time: 4:30pm **
📍Location: Meet at Science World
From @vanbike4palestine: The genocidal Israeli occupation is doing everything it can to prevent food and supplies from entering Gaza, causing deeper starvation and malnutrition than ever before. Food is a not just for survival, but is central facet of community, both in Gaza, and here in so-called Vancouver, and this is even more true during the month of Ramadan.
In recognition of this, and in the spirit of Ramadan, a few generous members of our biking community will be providing a Palestinian vegetable soup for Iftar (the meal that breaks the daily fast).
Join us Sunday afternoon (March 16th), as we ride in resistance to our government’s complicity in the Palestinian genocide, and in solidarity with those unable to break their Israeli-imposed “fast”.
🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
March 16th Ride:
Meet: 4:30pm @ Science World
Ride: 5:00pm
Iftar: 7:00pm @ John McBride Community Garden
Design Justice Workshop - Tuesday March 18th
🗓 Date: March 18th
⏰ Time: 6.30-8.30pm
📍 Location: Emily Carr University Room B1110
Register by email to fithikra@gmail.comFrom @bebejalebi and @heartcore.94: I am honoured to be presenting a design justice workshop with @heartcore.94 - the workshop will cover the basics of photoshop and creating graphic designs + illustrations for mutual aid, housing accessibility and other resources. this event is free and open to community outside of ecu 💌
ROOM CHANGED TO B4115**
✼ 0 experience necessary!
✼ food will be provided
✼ breaks in between
Screening/Workshop/Discussion Series - Multiple dates
🗓 Date: March 20th, 27th and April 3rd
⏰ Time: 5.30-8.30pm
📍 Location: UBC / James Black Gallery🥣 More details shared the Monday of screening week
😷 Masks Strongly Encouraged
From @anartchists and friends:
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 INTRODUCING….. ROOTING RESISTANCE IN ACTION 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝
⛰︎ a screening / workshop / discussion series ⛰︎
𑁍 showcasing global land defender movements, spanning 3 days 𑁍
𖠰 MARCH 20th, 27th & APRIL 3rd 𖠰
𓋼 RSVP strongly encouraged but not required for entry 𓋼
☁︎ after screenings, we will move to an alternate location for zine-making and critical discussion ☁︎
𐂂 mutual/direct aid and fundraising in effect, bring cash! 𐂂
𓄿 details for each day (RSVP form, films screening, what to bring, mutual aid recipients, TBD locations, etc.) will be shared the Monday of the screening week, keep an eye out for the post! 𓄿
ACCESSIBILITY INFO:
𓇼 N95s provided and STRONGLY encouraged 𓇼
𓅪 air purifiers on-site 𓅪
𓆨 locations TBC, but all will be wheelchair accessible 𓆨
𓆉 all films will include Closed Captioning 𓆉
𓅬 questions, comments, want to help out? contact community@citr.ca 𓅬
Film Premiere - The Rio Theatre
** 🗓 Sunday March 16th at 12:15pm**
**📍Rio Theatre **
**⭐️ **Tickets available here
Perfect for a rainy day, stay cosy at the Rio Theatre and watch this special screening of an inspiring revolutionary film.
MY FRIEND THE TERRORIST is a moving portrait of two exiled Filipino revolutionaries, the late Jose Maria (“Joma”) Sison and his wife Julie De Lima; both key leaders in the ongoing Philippine revolution. The film explores the life and love of the unassuming pair as they serve the National Democratic movement from exile — in the tranquil Dutch city of Utrecht, 10,000 km away from their homeland. Surviving “terrorist” designations, dictatorships, solitary confinement, torture, and repeated assassination attempts by the Filipino government, Joma and Julie have persevered — just like the vibrant revolution they helped build.
MY FRIEND THE TERRORIST places these revolutionaries’ personal journeys alongside a deep exploration of the struggle on the ground. It provides a first-hand account of a resistance movement supported by millions of Filipinos, striving to free the country from the rule of wealthy landlords, US imperialism, and a fascist government. Directors Malcolm Guy and Demetri Estdelaropolis show all sides of the democratic resistance; the protesters in demonstrations of thousands taking to the streets to demand social and economic justice; the peasant masses and resistance fighters striving for a dignified standard of living for all and defending themselves against a repressive state; and the dedicated couple in a beach-side town in the Netherlands, giving everything for the liberation of their home country.
Donation Campaign of the Week
**Islamic Relief Canada **
This week we are again highlighting this fundraiser from Islamic Relief Canada:
“For 15 long and difficult months, Gaza has endured unimaginable loss.
Throughout the crisis, our teams on the ground worked tirelessly, often under extreme conditions, to deliver life-saving aid. As Gaza’s future remains uncertain, one thing is clear - we stand with its people, and we are committed to continuing this vital work, together with you.
With your help, we are scaling up efforts to meet urgent needs. From Rafah to Jabaliya, every gift you give brings hope and relief to families in need:
$65 can provide life-saving essentials
$150 can provide a family with life-saving food
$250 can provide emergency medical supplies
Give now and create a future where families can rebuild their lives and children can dream again. Together, let's restore dignity and build hope, one step at a time.
- Donations are Zakat eligible, please check the Zakat box to designate your donation accordingly”
Click here to learn more and support Islamic Relief Canada
Community Spotlight
Connecting Gaza
Today for our community spotlight we have a request from within the community - the Connecting Gaza project is expanding their reach and looking for some support to keep up their important work.
The Connecting Gaza project helps families in Gaza with microfinancing, medical aid triaging and emotional support. They are currently looking for a motivated social media whiz to help them highlight the project’s many successes and ongoing needs of families on the ground. If you are interested and able to volunteer 1-3 hours per week to help with this initiative, please email them through the contact form at www.connectinggaza.org/contact
Contribute to the Newsletter
Do you have something you would like to share with your neighbours? We welcome submissions of all kinds — stories, poems, art, and event info. Simply reply to this email to send in your contribution.
Forward to a Friend
Feel free to share: click here** **to subscribe or share this edition as a webpage by clicking this link. Share using our QR code.
With gratitude and in solidarity,
Your Neighbours
Van Gran 4 Palestine
PS. If you no longer want to receive emails from us, please use the unsubscribe button below. If you welcome these, please add us to your contact list.
