Charges dropped against four of five who protested the 2023 Giller Prize ceremony
Pro-Palestinian activists are celebrating a small victory as charges against four of the five individuals arrested for protesting at last year’s Giller Prize have been withdrawn. The group CanLit Responds made the announcement at a press conference held outside a Scotiabank branch on Friday morning.
The protesters had disrupted the prestigious literary award ceremony in November 2023, carrying signs that condemned Scotiabank for its investment in the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. Three of the protesters were arrested on the night of the ceremony and charged with criminal mischief and using a forged document to gain entry. Two others were arrested at a later time, according to CanLit Responds.
Maysam Abu Khreibeh, one of the individuals arrested that night, expressed relief upon hearing that the charges against her had been dropped. She stated that it had taken months for the courts to acknowledge that their actions should not have been deemed criminal. Her lawyer, Riaz Sayani, also emphasized that the protesters should never have been charged in the first place.
While charges have been withdrawn for four of the protesters, the fifth individual still faces pending charges after being arrested in September 2024, nearly a year after the initial incident. The delay in withdrawing the charges has raised questions about the handling of the case by Toronto Police.
In response to the dropped charges, Elana Rabinovitch, the executive director of the Giller Foundation, affirmed the organization’s support for freedom of speech, expression, dissent, and the right to protest. The foundation stands by its commitment to upholding these fundamental rights.
The incident at the Giller Prize ceremony shed light on the complexities of activism and the intersection of literature with social justice issues. It serves as a reminder of the power of protest and the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of legal challenges. CanLit Responds continues to advocate for Palestinian rights and raise awareness about corporate complicity in human rights violations.
