On May 18, 2019 a pro-Palestinian demonstration titled “Nakba 71: Cross-Canada Day of Action” took place at Toronto Dundas Square. For more information about its organizers, endorsements and messages click here.
Ali Mallah is a pro-Palestinian activist, member of Toronto BDS Coalition, organizer with al-Quds Day, former Vice-President of the Canadian Arab Federation, CUPE member, Federal NDP Candidate Election 2000 and former Vice President Ontario NDP.
Here is Ali Mallah’s speech at Toronto Nakba Day rally:
Thank you, brothers and sisters, friends and comrades. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? We are for Palestine and justice for Palestine and the liberation of all Palestine. Last week our prime minister [Justin Trudeau] issued a statement declaring unconditional support for the illegal Zionist occupation. What do we say to him? Shame on you Justin Trudeau. Shame on you Andrew Scheer [Leader of the Conservative party] for promising to move the Canadian embassy to Al-Quds Jerusalem. Shame on NDP [New Democratic Party] and other politicians who are not standing out for our Canadian values, for human rights, civil liberty, dignity and resistance. Brothers, sisters and comrades, some politicians think they are elected to serve Israel and not the Canadians who elected them. They are trying to silence us. They are trying to ban BDS [boycott, divestment, sanctions]. They are trying to ban Al-Quds Day. We condemn [unintelligible]. We are here and we continue marching and demonstrating and support of Palestine and Palestinians until the day all Palestine from the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea will be free. All Palestine, all Palestine from the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea will be free. Brothers and sisters, I’m going to end [the speech], we have another meeting, we have another gathering together. June 1st, mark your time and your day. It will be at 2 O’clock and an announcement will be made for publication. We will be marching [in Toronto] for Al-Quds Day again and again and again and again until Palestine is free. So brothers and sisters, we have to stick together. They support occupation, we support freedom. They support oppression, we support dignity. The Palestinian people have the right to resist their occupiers by any means necessary. Long live Palestine, Long live Palestine, Long live Palestine. From the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea will be free. From the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea will be free.