How Liberal Ministers Are Reacting to Pro-Hamas Attack Chants in Ottawa

Pro-Palestinian protesters march in Ottawa on April 20, 2024. (Courtesy of Dacey Media)

Senior Liberal ministers have echoed the prime minister’s apparent condemnation of chants in Ottawa this weekend celebrating the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre, but others didn’t comment directly. In the case of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, she initially refused to comment, saying she is not aware of the details.

“Oct. 7 is proof that we are almost free. Long live Oct. 7! Long live the resistance! Long live the intifada! Long live every form of resistance!” said a protest participant using a loudspeaker on April 20.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted the day after on social media. Without specifically pointing to the protest, he said it’s “unconscionable to glorify the antisemitic violence and murder perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th.”

The statement on the X platform was re-posted by senior members of his cabinet.

Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Freeland initially did not weigh in on X, even though her account was active posting about budget measures, nor did she address the issue directly in person.

During a budget announcement in Montreal on April 22, Ms. Freeland was asked by reporters to comment on the pro-Hamas protest chants.

Related Stories

Trudeau Condemns ‘Hateful Intimidation’ After Ottawa Protest Celebrates Hamas Attack

4/22/2024

Anti-Israel Protests Continue at Columbia University Over the Weekend

4/22/2024

“I wasn’t in Ottawa over the weekend, and I’m not aware of those specific reports,” she said. “And so it would be just wrong of me to comment on something that I am not specifically aware of.”

Ms. Freeland added that anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are on the rise and that many Canadians aren’t feeling safe.

The deputy prime minister called the Oct. 7 events a “heinous terrorist attack” by a listed terrorist group, while adding her government has advocated for a ceasefire.

“A humanitarian catastrophe is happening right now in Gaza, and Canada and Canadians are there to support the suffering people there too,” she said.

A few hours later, Ms. Freeland posted on X: “Having seen video from this weekend, I can only express shock and disgust at the antisemitism and glorification of terrorism that occurred on Parliament Hill. This hate speech has no place in Canada. None.”

The social media statement by the prime minister was re-posted by multiple ministers, including Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne.  But not all senior cabinet ministers reposted the statement, nor made one of their own on X, including Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen, and Housing and Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser.

Treasury Board President Anita Anand also re-posted the prime minister’s statement on April 21, and issued one of her own on April 22.

“Glorifying the violence and murders by Hamas on Oct 7th is abhorrent,” she said. “Peaceful protests do not include hateful intimidation.”

Immigration Minister Marc Miller also echoed the prime minister. Mr. Miller re-posted the video from Dacey Media showing the protest and said the “abhorrent and hateful language is absolutely and utterly disgraceful.”

Chris Dacey of Dacey Media has been covering the pro-Palestinian protests in Ottawa for months, and he told The Epoch Times April 20 was the first time he heard protesters openly praise the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

The Ottawa Police Service says it’s investigating an allegation of hate speech related to the weekend protest in front of Parliament Hill after receiving complaints.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place since October to denounce Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, to call for a ceasefire, and also to advocate for the destruction of Israel.

Israel has been reacting to a Hamas raid inside its borders, which killed around 1,200 people. Hundreds of Israelis were also kidnapped by Hamas and taken to the Gaza Strip.

Editor’s note: This article was updated after Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland commented about the protest on social media later on April 22, after initially refusing to comment.