Immediate Release
November 3, 2023
Prominent musicians, labour leaders and former NDP MPPs defend Sarah Jama
Dr Gabor Maté, Roger Waters, Arcade Fire’s Richard Parry, CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn, former NDP MP Jim Manly, former Ontario MPPs Rima Berns-McGowan, Gary Wilson and Laura Mae Lindo sign “Defend Sarah Jama. Stop the Attack on Gaza”. Also endorsed by authors Angela Steritt, Ingeborg Marshall, Gordon Laxer, Clayton Thomas-Muller, and Judy Rebick, the public letter calls for the Ontario legislature to rescind its censure of Sarah Jama and for NDP leader Marit Stiles to retract her decision to expel her from the party’s caucus.
The letter concludes “for her integrity, courage and principled opposition to Israel’s violence in Palestine, Sarah Jama should be celebrated, not condemned.”
“The Ontario Conservatives’ censure of Sarah Jama is of great concern”, said Bianca Mugyenyi, director of Canadian Foreign Policy Institute. “The attacks highlight a troubling mix of anti-Palestinian and anti-Black racism.”
The public letter has been turned into an action alert so the general public can easily email it to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and NDP leader Marit Stiles.
“Many disaffected NDP members have been pointing out that the party is now adopting the positions Sarah Jama expressed on Palestinian rights just a few weeks ago”, added Karen Rodman, executive director of Just Peace Advocates.
Nearly 5000 individuals have emailed the NDP asking Marit Stiles to immediately reinstate Jama and over 500 attended an emergency virtual rally last week supporting her.
For more information, please contact:
Bianca Mugyenyi
Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
Phone:514-436-7629
Email:info@foreignpolicy.ca
Website: www.foreignpolicy.ca
