A pro-Hamas organization protesting Israel’s participation at an international softball tournament in Surrey on Wednesday “punched above their weight class,” when they unveiled a swastika poster, says Jewish community organizer Michael Sachs.
“The incorporation of the swastika is meant for one purpose and one purpose only and that is a hate symbol,” said Sachs of the protest directed, in part, by the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, whose Vancouver members have frequently praised the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israeli citizens.
“They’re trying to create a scenario where there is an equation between what is going on with the war and the Holocaust. There is no equation.
"They’re trying to trigger us,” said Sachs, who posted on X some of the protesters standing with anti-Israel signs behind a fence surrounding the tournament field for the Canada Cup women’s softball tournament.
Sachs said the protesters hurled “vile” comments toward the crowd, including telling children in attendance not to listen to their parents.
Sachs’ social media post drew condemnation from all four of the province’s political leaders.
“Kids should feel safe and be able to watch a sports game. Instead of bringing people together, a group targeted Jewish kids and their parents last night because of who they are. This is unacceptable. Hate has no place in our province,” stated Premier David Eby who heads the BC NDP government.
“This is horrible and it’s completely unacceptable to see in Canada,” said John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of B.C.
And, said BC United leader Kevin Falcon, “harassing children is completely unacceptable. I'm deeply disturbed to see this happen here in B.C.”
"I am horrified to hear that protesters targeted children and used Nazi imagery at a baseball game in B.C. last night. We cannot tolerate hate in our province," said B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau.
Sachs, who attended the game, said the protest prompted an unplanned and earlier than expected history lesson for his young children during the car ride home from Surrey to Richmond.
“The fact that the discussion about the swastikas had to happen on the car ride home because some radical person decided to put it in the poster, it’s very disturbing,” said Sachs.
Samidoun called for protesters to arrive at the tournament via Instagram.
“We are deeply troubled and angered by the warm welcome for Israeli sports representatives by the City of Surrey and Government of Canada, both themselves colonial entities occupying Indigenous lands,” the post said, in part.
This was not the first time Samidoun evoked a connection to First Nations, as the group has staged protests and sit-ins at the University of B.C. (On May 30 Musqueam elders denounced the group in a statement via the university.)
In May, Samidoun reported its Vancouver leader Charlotte Kates was arrested by Vancouver police after she gave a speech praising the attack on Israel by Hamas as "heroic and brave" while leading a “long live Oct. 7" chant at the Vancouver Art Gallery June 26.
Kates was released on an order to not participate in protests for five months, prompting debate and concern over her liberties from the BC Civil Liberties Association.
Sachs said Canada ought to follow Germany’s lead and ban the organization, which is registered with the federal government as a non-profit group.
“What’s more concerning is our politicians in Ottawa and B.C. are not taking the steps needed to shut down Samidoun,” said Sachs, who is concerned antisemitism is becoming more dangerous, such as the arson at a Vancouver synagogue last month.
Sachs said while the protesters exhibited “vile behaviour” the hundreds in attendance were supportive of everyone’s attempts to stay positive and focus on the softball game.
Canada beat Israel 10-3.
