B.C. protester who praised Hamas allowed to attend rallies again
A B.C. woman who was recorded praising Hamas as "heroic and brave" can return to protest rallies, authorities confirmed this week.
Charlotte Kates was arrested following a demonstration outside the Vancouver Art Gallery back in April, where videos also showed her participating in a chant of "Long live Oct. 7," celebrating the Hamas attacks on Israel.
One of her release conditions was that she not attend any "protests, rallies or assemblies" pending a court date scheduled in Vancouver on Tuesday.
The B.C. Prosecution Service told CTV News the conditions have since expired, as charges have not been laid against Kates.
Following her initial arrest, the Vancouver Police Department said investigators were working to determine whether any of the remarks made at the rally could constitute a hate crime.
Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Canada and many other nations around the world. The group's Oct. 7 attacks killed around 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and set off Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza. More than 42,000 Palestinians have died since, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Sgt. Steve Addison confirmed the investigation into Kates has been completed, and that a file was forwarded to the Crown for the consideration of charges.
"This process is ongoing, and I am unable to provide a timeline for completion," a BCPS spokesperson said in an email Tuesday.
"The BCPS will have no comment while the matter continues to be in the charge assessment process."
Back in August, Kates appeared on Iranian state television to discuss her arrest. She was reportedly in Tehran to accept an Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity Award.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kraig Krause
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. Justice Department brings criminal charges in Iranian murder-for-hire plan targeting Donald Trump
The Justice Department on Friday disclosed an Iranian murder-for-hire plot to kill Donald Trump, charging a man who said he had been tasked by a government official before this week's election with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect.
Canada rent report: What landlords are asking tenants to pay
Average asking rents declined nationally on a year-over-year basis for the first time in more than three years in October, said a report out Thursday.
N.S. school 'deeply sorry' for asking service members not to wear uniforms at Remembrance Day ceremony
An elementary school in the Halifax area has backed away from a request that service members not wear uniforms to the school's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Beyonce leads the 2025 Grammy noms, becoming the most nominated artist in the show's history
Welcome to Beyonce country. When it comes to the 2025 Grammy Award nominations, 'Cowboy Carter' rules the nation.
Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam. The violence was condemned as antisemitic
Israeli fans were assaulted after a soccer game in Amsterdam by hordes of young people apparently riled up by calls on social media to target Jewish people, Dutch authorities said Friday. Five people were treated at hospitals and dozens were arrested after the attacks, which were condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Amsterdam, Israel and across Europe.
48,584 space heaters recalled in Canada after burn injury in U.S.
Health Canada has announced a recall for electric space heaters over potential fire and burn risks, a notice published Thursday reads.
107-year-old temperature record among dozens broken across Canada
Canadians are experiencing a wave of warm weather across multiple provinces well into the fall season, shattering dozens of temperature records.
Prince William calls past year 'incredibly tough'
Prince William has described the past year as "brutal" following cancer diagnoses for his wife and father. "Honestly, it's been dreadful," he said.
Canada's permanent employees earning more, according to latest jobs data
Canada added lower-than-expected 14,500 jobs in October and wages of permanent employees rose, data showed on Friday, as the economy grappled to absorb the slack built up due to a rapidly rising population amid an overheated market.