Protest against ‘unabated slaughter’ in Gaza coming to Abbotsford this weekend

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Image: SPHR Fraser Valley / Two people wave Palestinian flags during a small demonstration in Abbotsford this year.

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“As well, Gaza is now in a state of human-caused, intentional famine,” Sherwood said. “All the humanitarian aid agencies and human rights groups are agreed that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war.”

The Abbotsford rallies are seeing more and more families with children, Sherwood said.

“We’ve been developing more children and family-friendly activities so that everyone can feel a part,” he said. “We encourage parents who want to protest to bring their kids and crafts material and make something creative and supportive of the people of Gaza. Our aim continues to be to create a safe, family-friendly space for those who wish to peacefully demand an immediate ceasefire and protest Canada’s involvement.”

Participants are also encouraged to bring signs, banners, flags, drums and other peaceful expressions of support.

Some rallies in Vancouver involving Gaza have seen demonstrators take to the streets in large numbers. One protest on February 1 in Vancouver saw dozens of demonstrators block access to the Port of Vancouver for hours. However, a much different vibe appears to be present for this weekend’s event in Abbotsford.

When contacted by Fraser Valley Today about a possible police presence at the event, AbbyPD spokesperson Constable Art Stele said police assess the need to deploy personnel on a case-by-case basis.

“If a need for police presence is required to ensure public safety, we will have the appropriate amount of resources dedicated to ensure all are safe,” Cst. Stele said.

City of Abbotsford spokesperson Melissa Godbout said Canadians are guaranteed the right to participate in peaceful demonstrations, protests, parades, meetings, picketing and other assemblies under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As for whether a permit is required to hold a protest in a city park, Godbout said it depends on a number of factors.

“A protest scheduled to occur in a City Park may or may not require a conveyance of expression activity permit, depending on several factors, including the size of the protest, whether the protest involves the use of structures, whether or not it will have an impact on traffic, etc.,” Godbout said. “As this is the first the City has heard of this event and we have no additional information, we can’t say for sure whether or not a permit would be required.”