Ontario MPP Sarah Jama is receiving support after she was both silenced in the legislature and dropped from the NDP caucus on Monday.
The Doug Ford government voted to censure Jama on Monday, which essentially silences her in Parliament until she formally apologizes and retracts her initial statements about calling for a ceasefire by Israeli forces.
And moments before the vote, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles announced Jama’s removal from the party following her comments on the war.
Jama will now be sitting as an independent member of provincial parliament.
Since Jama’s removal from the party, an open letter from the Hamilton Centre Riding Association in support of Jama has been growing, with nearly 3,000 signatures as of publication.
“[We] unequivocally stand with Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama,” the letter reads.
“In MPP Jama’s ‘Call for Immediate Cease Fire’, she reiterates comments made by Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur, regarding the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories. Lynk provides a definition of apartheid and explains how this definition applies to the generations-long occupation of Palestine,” it continues.
According to the association, Jama’s statement upholds human rights and international law and calls for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation and does not deserve her removal from caucus.
Since the onset of the violence, Jama has been clear about where she stands and who she stands with.
“I ground my words in the realities of Israeli apartheid, and Israel’s ongoing domination and occupation of Palestinian lands. Governments and institutions in Canada are trying to use their weight to silence us,” Jama said in the legislature on Monday.
“To silence workers, students, educators, and peace-loving people who dare to support Palestine. To every person taking risks to speak up for Palestinian dignity and safety, I see you, I hear you, and I am with you,” she continued.
The letter in her defence was signed by many advocacy organizations, including the Disability Justice Network of Ontario and the Independent Jewish Voices.
Since the news of her ejection from the NDP party, many have shared their thoughts and opinions on the situation.
Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari tweeted on Monday that she voted to censure Jama and that she believed it was the right decision.
“Antisemitism & divisiveness have no place in Queen’s Park, Ontario or Canada. We must always denounce terrorism,” she said.
Community leader and advocate Diana Chan McNally chimed into the conversation and expressed her confusion with some of the decisions that were made.
“Sarah Jama was the first to call for a ceasefire and she eventually called out Hamas as well — both in line with the current NDP position. So what did Sarah do? She called for an end to the occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories — which is also a UN position,” she said.
Desmond Cole, Canadian journalist, activist and author said that Jama has been “censured, defamed, and scapegoated,” but “remains focused on stopping the brutality against Gaza.”
On Tuesday, Stiles’ office was vandalized just one day after Jama was booted from the party.
The words taped to the window include “FREE PALESTINE” and “BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS,” along with red paint smeared across Stiles’ picture.
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