WARMINGTON: 'Deeply offensive' — Remembrance Day poppy exploited to honour Hamas leader

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The poppy is to remember Canada’s war dead.

Not Hamas terrorists.

There are few things more vile than hijacking the poppy to honour the death of a murderous terror leader. But it has happened. It seems, there’s no shame or honour anymore.

But not everybody rolls over to the will of the bullies. Known for not ending any desecration of Canada’s most precious symbol of sacrifice, the Royal Canadian Legion says a meme using poppies to promote a martyr’s vigil violates the Legion’s trademark and should not be used. 

“We are aware of this post and have asked that it be removed,” said the Legion’s communications manager Nujma Bond. 

“The Legion does not mess around when it comes to the poppy,” said Brian Patterson, director of the Ontario Last Post Fund. “They are sending a cease-and-desist letter over there immediately because using poppies in this way is an insult to every fallen service member and every veteran too.” 

From time to time, well-meaning people breach the poppy trademark accidentally, but this is not one of those times. This time, while the poppies in the social media post are being used without permission, that is the least offensive part of it. 

The whole event is sketchy. 

It is “commemorating 40 days after the martyrdom of the leaders of the resistance fighting for Palestinian freedom” on “Tuesday Nov. 26 at 6 p.m., at 300 City Centre Drive.” 

And in addition to three red poppies with the slogan “Lest We Forget,” it shows a picture of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in Gaza last month. It also says “Vigil for Resistance Leaders — bring your candles and pictures.”

Candles and pictures for a killer of Jews — some of whom have connections to the GTA? It’s gross. This suggestion in a country that has rendered Hamas as a terror organization. It’s hard to stomach that anybody would attend something like this, let alone celebrate it. But police and the Legion are approaching it as if it’s real. Two emails to the organizer of this event had yet to receive a response as of Friday night. However, Peel Regional Police are aware of the invitation and are monitoring any developments. 

“It is appalling that anti-Israel groups would exploit Canadian Remembrance Day and the sacred symbol of the poppy to promote messages that undermine the very values for which our veterans fought,” said Michelle Stock, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). “The poppy is a hallowed symbol of our pledge to never forget the brave veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice defending Canada and the freedoms we hold dear. This manipulation goes beyond mere advocacy; using the poppy to honour figures like Yahya Sinwar — a leader behind the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks — is a grotesque violation of its sacred meaning.” 

Since Oct. 7, 2023, there have been weekly demonstrations as well as shootings at Jewish schools and vandalizing Jewish businesses. 

Now, pro-Hamas supporters are co-opting the poppy. There are no exceptions to the rule — other than the approved and beloved special poppy to mark Indigenous Remembrance Day Nov. 8. That and the traditional poppy with the pin are what the Legion allows. Nothing else. The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance. Under no circumstances is it a protest pin.

“It is profoundly disturbing to see the poppy — a Canadian symbol of sacrifice and remembrance — exploited alongside vigils for figures such as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar,” said Austin T. Parcels, manager, research and advocacy for B’nai Brith Canada. 

“Honouring a terrorist responsible for countless innocent deaths, with a symbol meant to remember those who fought for peace, is vile and deeply offensive.”

Sadly, this is not the only poppy violation from the pro-Palestine movement. In the U.K, there is a Poppies for Palestine movement, basing the traditional red and black poppy with green.

“All of these Hamas support groups are not only targeting Jews but also the foundation of Canada,” said Meir Weinstein of Israel Now who is considering counter-protesting this event in the name of all of the veterans and Jews who died as a result of the Holocaust. “These so-called Palestine poppies are an insult to Canadian veterans who lived and died for Canada.” 

The Royal Canadian Legion has seen different attempts to cancel the poppy or water down its meaning. 

But they won’t allow it to happen. 

Said Bond: “The poppy is a sacred symbol of Remembrance of our Fallen Veterans in Canada and we would ask people to choose other symbols for other causes.” 

Time will tell if they listen. 

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