For weeks, Victoria police have allowed pro-Hamas demonstrators to obstruct public roadways and issue open calls for genocide. These include the chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” which necessarily entails the violent expulsion of Jews from the region.

Recent reports allege that some of the pro-Hamas demonstrators have been paid from grant moneys issued by the Victoria Foundation.

A Victoria imam named Youmous Kathrada has used his public Facebook page to call for the annihilation of “plundering Jews”, atheists, and heretics. He has encouraged thousands of followers to fund Hamas, a listed terrorist group in Canada.

All of this is taking place against the backdrop of October 7^th, the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and a rising tide of anti-Jewish harassment and intimidation across Canada.

We, the undersigned, therefore call upon the Victoria Police Department to:

Ensure that future demonstrations remain peaceful and lawful, with prompt enforcement actions taken against any persons uttering threats, obstructing roadways, or violating other applicable laws.

Investigate whether the calls for genocide by pro-Hamas organizers and Mr. Kathrada violate the provisions in Canada’s criminal code against hate speech and the uttering of threats.

Investigate whether Canada’s terrorism financing laws have been violated by the payment of grant funds to demonstrators or Mr. Kathrada’s solicitation of funds to Hamas.