THUNDER BAY — Local activists rallied outside the office of Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski on Friday to demand a response to what they say were repeated unanswered emails and messages about Canada’s position on Palestine.
During the demonstration, organized by Palestine Solidarity Thunder Bay, speakers called out multiple political figures by name. “Where is Marcus Powlowski? Where’s Patty Hajdu? Where is Mark Carney? Where is Anita Anand?” said Taina Maki-Chahal, a lead organizer of the group. “Stop the performances and learn your facts. Get out here, talk to your constituents.”
“We’ve sent him a long email with questions and comments,” she added. “We want his input. We want action. He didn’t answer. So what do we do? We go out. This is a democracy. We want access to our MPs.”
"Palestine is a local issue," Maki-Chahal said. "First of all, we have Palestinian Thunder Bayites, just like how I’m a Finnish Thunder Bayite.”
She also drew parallels to Canada’s history, saying “Canadians have lots to be ashamed about. We are a nation built on genocide ourselves.” She further talked about Canada's role in the creation of Israel.
Among those at the protest was Luisa Alfonso, who said she came to Canada as a political refugee from Chile after Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. “I am a human being, a woman, a worker, and right now I am myself a political refugee from a fascist government,” she said. “That is one of the many reasons why I need to support the Palestinian people, especially the children.”
Alfonso made a direct appeal to Powlowski. “As a doctor, he should understand this better than anybody else,” she said. “I ask him, as a human being, an elected politician, and a doctor, to do something, intervene, talk to the government, and stop this genocide.”
She called for concrete measures, including halting weapons and materials sales to Israel and, if necessary, cutting diplomatic ties. “If this is not a violation of human rights, I don’t know what is,” she said.
In a statement to Newswatch following the protest, Powlowski said he recognized “the strong emotions surrounding the situation in Palestine” and said he was open to meeting with the group. He encouraged them to read his “July 30 social media post where I share my thoughts on this important issue.”
The post reads: “I very much welcome our Prime Minister's statement on our recognition of a Palestinian state. It is an important step.” A reference to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s statement that Canada intends to recognize Palestine as a state at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Alfonso questioned why recognition would not happen sooner. “Why wait? We need it now. Right now, children are being killed. Tonight, many more are going to be dismembered," she said. "I applaud him, but let’s do it now."
Maki-Chahal also said she hopes to discuss the announcement directly with Powlowski. “Meet with us and let’s talk about how he sees that as an important step. I want to know what he knows about Palestine and Israel."
