CJPME's Anti-Racism Program Condemns Unfair Cancellation of Palestinian Cultural Performance on New Brunswick Day

According to local organizers, the Palestinian folk dance performance (Dabke) was cancelled at the last minute, cloaked under the guise of 'public safety concerns' without any substantiated explanation. A follow-up statement from the government of New Brunswick insinuated that a Palestinian dance would not be “neutral.” The ARPCF believes that this unjust exclusion not only deprived Palestinian Canadians of a platform to share their cultural heritage, but also signaled an unacceptable differential treatment compared to other cultural groups, exemplifying a continuing pattern of anti-Palestinian racism.

The ARPCF notes that the decision to cancel the performance is starkly contrasted with the inclusion of other ethnic performances, such as Ukrainian folk dances. “This selective application of safety concerns appears to be a pretext to exclude Palestinian cultural expressions specifically, which is discriminatory and undermines the values of diversity and inclusion that Canada espouses,” said Jamila Ewais, lead Researcher of the ARPCF. “The fact that the celebration proceeded with performances from other nations currently facing occupation, yet singled out Palestinian expressions for exclusion, lays bare the double standards at play,” added Ewais.

The APRCF asserts that this action by the event organizers alienates Palestinian Canadians, presenting their cultural practices as controversial and as security risks, which is both unjust and unfounded. This is a manifestation of anti-Palestinian racism as outlined by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA)’s report in 2022, which includes the exclusion of Palestinian perspectives and the unjust depiction of Palestinians and their expressions as threats to safety. This systemic issue within Canadian society must be addressed to honour the cultural contributions of Palestinians, which are rooted in thousands of years of history in Palestine.

The ARPCF urges the event organizers and relevant government bodies to publicly clarify the reasons behind this cancellation and to take steps to rectify the situation. Moreover, the ARPCF calls for the establishment of clear, equitable guidelines for the inclusion of all cultural groups in public events to prevent such discriminatory practices in the future. Finally, the ARPCF calls on the organizers to issue an apology to the Palestinian community of New Brunswick, as this incident suggests that they and their culture are not welcome in Canada.