Jewish agencies have filed a complaint against Sean Orr, a Vancouver city councilor who spoke earlier this month at an event they say has links to terrorism.
Orr was elected to council in a by-election last April, representing the Coalition of Progressive Electors. He spoke at the “Flood Vancouver for Palestine” rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery Oct. 4.
The protest was organized by Al-Awda Vancouver, an organization that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) says has documented links to Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Movement, which the Government of Canada last year designated as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
CIJA identified Al-Awda Vancouver as being connected with Samidoun through Samidoun’s international coordinator, Charlotte Kates, who was listed as a member of Al-Awda’s national board as recently as Nov. 6, 2024, on a webpage that has since been deleted. Both Al-Awda and Samidoun are members of the NY4Palestine Coalition, according to CIJA, which noted that Dave Diewart, a director listed on Samidoun’s corporate filings, was seen working at the Oct. 4 event.
CIJA, with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, filed a formal complaint with the City of Vancouver’s integrity commissioner, Lisa Southern, regarding Orr’s participation in the protest.
“Sean Orr is an elected official of the city of Vancouver,” Nico Slobinsky, CIJA’s vice-president, Pacific region, told the Independent. “We strongly believe that those who hold public office should hold themselves, and should be held to, a higher standard. We believe that it is inappropriate for an elected official to use their public office, to use their platform, and to give legitimacy to organizations that have links to terrorist organizations, terrorist entities.”
The complaint was filed on Oct. 9, and an acknowledgment from the integrity commissioner’s office was received. The complainants are now waiting to hear back.
Orr’s speech was shared on social media. The councilor insists there is nothing controversial in his remarks.
“Being against what the UN calls of a genocide is not controversial,” he said. “Being against apartheid is not controversial. Calling for an end to illegal settlements is not controversial. Being in favour of enforcing international law is not controversial. Condemning the murder of journalists, doctors and children is not controversial. Calling for an arms embargo is not controversial. Calling for a boycott on Israeli wines is not controversial. But here we are. I think silence is controversial. I think famines are controversial. I think blockades are controversial. I think intercepting aid ships is controversial.”
Orr cited his family’s history as explaining his position.
“As someone whose parents are from the north of Ireland, I’m deeply aware of the effects of colonialism, famine, checkpoints and collective punishment,” he said in the speech. “So, while some will criticize me for speaking here today, I will remember where I’m from.”
Slobinsky said Orr’s presence at the rally sends the wrong message.
“At a time when cities in our country are seeing an unprecedented rise in antisemitism,” said Slobinsky, “and when cities like Manchester … have come face-to-face with the deadly impacts of extremism and support for terrorism, our civic leaders in Vancouver should be a model for dialogue, for inclusion and for protection and safety for all communities. I would like to remind Sean Orr that that is his duty to the residents of the city.”
Prior to and after his election on April 5, Orr was called out by Jewish organizations and others for statements on social media, including statements after the 10/7 terror attacks in Israel.
“[M]erely 23 days after Hamas’s barbaric Oct. 7 massacre in which over 1,200 Israelis were murdered, Councilor Orr falsely accused the state of Israel of committing acts of genocide while it acted to defend its citizens and sovereign territory from terrorist aggression,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and CIJA said in a joint statement three days after Orr was elected. “Such reckless and inflammatory language not only distorts reality but also endangers Jewish communities by further inflaming antisemitism and denying Israel’s right to defend itself.”