Vancouver Jewish Community Leaders React to Private Prosecution of Charlotte Kates
Vancouver, B.C. – August 20, 2025 – Today, the leader of OneBC and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, Dallas Brodie, filed a private prosecution against Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator for Samidoun.
On April 26, 2024, Kates referred to the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, as “heroic and brave”. Shortly after, she was arrested by the Vancouver Police Department and released under the condition that she refrain from participating in any protest activities. These conditions expired when the BC Prosecution Service and Assistant Deputy Attorney General did not approve the charges recommended by the Vancouver Police Department by October 8, 2024. One week later, Kates’ organization, Samidoun, was officially designated as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
In response, Nico Slobinsky, Vice President – Pacific Region, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said:
“Today’s private prosecution is a reminder that the BC Prosecution Service and Assistant Deputy Attorney General have had a Report to Crown Counsel recommending charges against Charlotte Kates sitting on their desks since June 2024. Every day they do not press charges, she acts with increasing impunity, including by flying to Iran to receive a “human rights” award from its government and attending the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Our legal system must send a clear message: antisemitism and hate have no place in British Columbia or anywhere else in Canada. Charges must be pressed without delay.”
Also responding, Ezra Shanken, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, said:
“More than two-thirds of B.C.’s Jewish community have reported experiencing an antisemitic hate incident. Individuals and organizations like Charlotte Kates and Samidoun have exacerbated this dramatic wave of antisemitism, which is why our community has been calling for accountability since her despicable remarks on April 26, 2024, on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Today’s development is a stark reminder of the urgent need for justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
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