As a group of protesters outside called for a Middle East ceasefire, others inside the office of MP Lloyd Longfield read aloud the names of 8,000 Palestinians who have reportedly been killed since the recent flare-up of violence.
Their goal was to encourage Longfield to throw his support behind demands for the federal government to call for an end to the Israeli occupation of Gaza and free Palestine.
“We’re calling for elected officials to actually do something rather than staying quiet. Obviously they know what’s happening and they know what their silence means,” explained group media contact Ana Abdelhalin. “We’re here to tell them we won’t stand for that, we won’t just let them be silent.”
About 30 people gathered outside the MP’s Farquhar Street office chanting, among other things, “cease fire now” and “justice is our demand, no peace on stolen land.”
Inside, the public area of Longfield’s office was plastered with hand-written posters and names of Palestinians who’ve died since Oct. 8 were read aloud.
Similar protests were held at 16 other MPs' offices throughout Canada.
