Police order B.C. woman who praised Hamas not to protest for 5 months, says her group
A pro-Palestinian activist group says its international co-ordinator, who was arrested in a Vancouver hate-crime investigation, was released with an order not to attend any protests for the next five months.
The Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network says Charlotte Kates was arrested by Vancouver police after she gave a speech last week praising the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas as “heroic and brave.”
Samidoun, an international activist group based in Vancouver that has organized protests about the Israel-Hamas war, says in a statement that Kates was briefly detained by police before being released on condition she not attend any “protests, rallies or assemblies,” until a court date on Oct. 8.
It says she has been charged, but a spokeswoman for the B.C. Prosecution Service says it does not have a file on Kates and it's waiting for a report from police to the Crown.
The Samidoun statement calls the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas “a legitimate military operation,” but Hamas is designated as a terrorist entity in Canada.
The attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, setting off Israel's offensive in Gaza that the Health Ministry there says has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.
A subsequent email from Samidoun says Kates did not write their original statement, which is attributed to the Canada Palestine Association. The group did not say who specifically wrote it.
During question period at the B.C. legislature on Thursday, Michael Lee, the BC United member for Vancouver-Langara, said there is a disturbing pattern of hate against Jewish students at universities in the province.
“Antisemitic encampments have spread from (the University of British Columbia) to the University of Victoria to Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.”
Lee said Kates is supporting the encampments on behalf of the group Samidoun.
“Samidoun has received government funding, but has strong connections to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the PFLP, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.”
While McGill University has asked police help to protect student safety at a pro-Palestinian encampment there, B.C. has done nothing, Lee said, asking why the government hasn't acted.
Lisa Beare, the post-secondary education minister, replied that celebrating murder is completely unacceptable and it is disappointing to see people use such tragedies to promote hate.
“Universities, colleges and institutes across the province do have the policies in place to allow for a peaceful protest, while also ensuring everyone on campus is safe and I expect all the institutes to find that balance,” Beare said.
A representative at the University of B.C. encampment said she didn't know the details of Kates's case and declined to comment on the allegations on Thursday.
“What did transpire a few days ago was certainly unfortunate,” said the spokeswoman, identifying herself only by a first name, Sam.
“We're a decentralized encampment with no affiliation with any groups or specific people or organizations, off-campus and within campus,” Sam said.
“The folks here are here on autonomous free will.”
Vancouver police did not respond to a request for confirmation of any conditions that Kates may have been released under. They previously said a 44-year-old woman had been arrested over a speech last Friday in which she “referred to a number of terrorist organizations as heroes.”
Samidoun is a federally registered non-profit that is based in an East Vancouver home that is also registered as Kates's address. It has been involved in promoting or organizing numerous pro-Palestinian protests since last Oct. 7.
Video of Friday's rally shows a woman leading the crowd outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in a chant of “long live Oct. 7” and calling the attackers “heroic and brave.”
B.C. Premier David Eby has said the speech was “the most hateful” he could imagine.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
Miller scores late as Canucks grind out 3-2 win over Oilers in Game 5
J.T. Miller scored in the final minute of the game and the Vancouver Canucks came back for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series Thursday.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.