gelatik
08.04.02, 10:54
Calls for the end of Israeli occupation of Palestine echoed down Whyte Avenue
in Edmonton Sunday, April 7, as around 500 people of various religious and
cultural backgrounds marched in a peaceful demonstration in support of helpless
unarmed Palestinians.
The march down one of Edmonton’s busiest avenues began around 11:30 in the
morning at Corbett Hall on the University of Alberta campus. Chants of “Self
determination, End the occupation” filled the avenue as the march proceeded
eastwards to Gazebo Park. Marchers carried Palestinian and Canadian flags as
well as signs denouncing Israeli invasions of Palestinian cities.
The theme of the rally, organized by Canadians for Equality and Peace for
Palestinians (CEPPAAL) was “End the occupation – End the violence” and called
for Israel to withdraw completely from all of the territories occupied in 1967
as per U.N. Resolution 242, as a precursor to a just and sustainable peaceful
future.
Demonstrators also called for all displaced Palestinians to have the right to
return to their homes and lands. The integrity and accessibility of all holy
places for Muslims, Christians and Jews in Palestine to be restored, respected
and protected was also part of their appeal to Canadians and their government.
The focus of the rally was to open the eyes of Canadians and the government to
the brutality of the Israeli occupation forces and to demand human rights for
the Palestinian people. Representatives of most local news media were present
and the march met with claps and shouts of encouragement from passers by. The
Edmonton Police Service escorted the 30-minute march down Whyte Avenue.
Demonstrators listened to a speech detailing the abuses of Red Crescent
ambulance drivers as well as a fiery address by a Lutheran priest denouncing
the colonialist policies of the Israeli government.
Demonstrations in Canada have been going on since Friday, April 5, when
hundreds of Palestinian supporters rallied outside Calgary City Hall and broke
into chants when hawkish Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was compared to
Adolph Hitler.
