Hamas supporters cancel Mississauga vigil after intense advocacy by Jewish groups — Parrish questioned for ignoring policies

Organizers of a Mississauga vigil planned near the end of the month to celebrate the widely condemned terrorist leader of Hamas, who was killed last month, have decided to cancel the event after fierce public backlash.

On its X account the group, which calls itself Canadian Defenders For Human Rights, posted over the weekend that for security and safety reasons, “CD4HR has decided to cancel the November 26 Vigil…Lest the Pro-Israel lobbies and their supporters think they intimidated us in any way.”

Michelle Stock, the Ontario Vice President of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, told The Pointer Monday the cancellation of the event is bitter-sweet.
“While CIJA is relieved that the vigil has been cancelled, it is utterly unacceptable and appalling that an event honouring Hamas terrorist leaders – including Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 massacre – was ever planned on City property. 

“It is both shocking and deeply disappointing that Mayor Parrish refuses to acknowledge the harmful and divisive nature of this event. Equally troubling is her failure to apologize for comparing Sinwar to Nelson Mandela during a City Council meeting – though her history of anti-Zionist statements makes her disregard for the concerns of the Jewish community sadly unsurprising. 

“We remain steadfast in our advocacy to ensure that City property is never used to glorify terrorism or promote hate. The City must guarantee that such events are never permitted on public property, and the Mayor must immediately and sincerely apologize for her offensive and divisive remarks.”

Jewish advocacy groups across the country condemned the vigil, its organizers and Mayor Carolyn Parrish, who has refused to directly condemn the event and would not take steps to prevent it from happening at Celebration Square, right next to City Hall, where it was set to take place. 

Parrish, repeating the same line that CD4HR had used earlier, faced even more backlash after she compared the assassinated former Hamas leader to Nelson Mandela during a public council meeting last week. Despite widespread criticism, she claimed Charter rights prevented the City from cancelling the vigil on property owned by the municipality.

Parrish has long advocated for Palestinian rights and has enjoyed widespread support in Mississauga’s large and diverse Muslim community.

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has drawn criticism for comments made last week comparing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to Nelson Mandela.

(Paige Peacock/The Pointer Files)

B’nai Brith Canada wrote to Parrish last week questioning why she was not following the City of Mississauga’s own policies. 

“We demand that Mayor Parrish restore order and take immediate action to prevent this harmful event from taking place. Doing anything less is a shameful dereliction of her duties,” the organization posted on X, before the vigil was cancelled over the weekend. 

In a two-page letter the group detailed parts of the City of Mississauga’s council-approved 2017 policy titled Outdoor Events in the Civic District.

According to its rules City officials and staff have to assist “in the selection and approval of events for Mississauga Celebration Square, in accordance with this policy.”

Gatherings are only allowed if the “Activities are not conducted or promoted that have the potential to incite violence and/or hatred”, the “event does not endorse views and ideas which are likely to promote discrimination, contempt or hatred for any person…” and if “the event does not conflict with the City’s core values or vision or does not adversely impact on the City’s identity.”

B’nai Brith and other groups and individuals who expressed concern over Parrish’s lack of leadership, questioned why she failed to simply follow the rules. 

Parrish has maintained publicly that Charter rights prevent her from taking any action to cancel the vigil. Now, after intense external pressure, the event has been cancelled. 

“Obviously we’re relieved that the vigil will not be taking place,” Richard Robertson, B'nai Brith Canada’s director of research and advocacy, told The Pointer. “However, it’s concerning and frustrating to B’nai Brith Canada that it took what appears to be an immense amount of public outcry in order for the planned vigil to be cancelled. There was a concerning lack of leadership on the part of Mississauga’s civic leaders in ensuring that such a vigil would not take place and we’re saddened they did not take the initiative to put the best interests of the safety, security and well being of all the municipality’s citizens first.”

Many concerned groups and residents pointed out that Parrish’s comparison of the Hamas leader (killed by Israeli forces last month) to the late Nelson Mandela, was the same line that had previously been used by the organizers of the vigil. 

It has been widely pointed out since her remarks that Hamas is recognized officially by the Canadian government as a terrorist organization and its former leader specifically ordered the mass killings, rape and torture of innocent civilian men, women, children and babies. Mandela is held up globally as a champion of human rights and was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize.  

The Pointer received a number of comments from readers questioning why Parrish suddenly moved the public discussion around the controversy during last Wednesday’s open meeting behind closed doors, when councillors expressed frustration over the lack of action by Parrish. 

Under provincial legislation, all public matters have to be discussed in open session, even if they are controversial. There are exceptions for a few issues including employment contracts, real estate transactions and private personnel matters. 

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Email: [email protected]

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