Liberal MP regrets ‘hurtful, inappropriate’ comments aimed at Gaza solidarity activists [video]

Wayne Long, the Liberal MP for Saint John-Rothesay, has issued a statement on social media saying he regrets “hurtful and inappropriate” remarks against Palestine solidarity activists.

The Muslim Association of NB welcomed his “efforts to rebuild trust with the Muslim community,” while activists from the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Saint John rejected what they called a “performative apology.”

The incident occurred on Dec. 13 outside Trinity Galleries in uptown Saint John, where a Liberal Party holiday celebration was disrupted by a group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Video clips that have circulated widely on social media show the politician and a member of his staff in the midst of a heated dispute with protesters.

Earlier posts on Wayne Long’s official Facebook page, along with statements from community groups, identify the staff member as Jeannette Arsenault.

In the footage, Long and Arsenault tell the protesters “shame on you.” At one point, Arsenault exclaims “terrorists” before telling protesters: “You guys believe in terrorism.”

In a separate short clip, she appears to tell someone, “If you don’t like Canada, leave.”

At one point, Long and Arsenault are met with cries of “shame on you, racists, colonialists” and chants accusing the MP of supporting genocide.

In December, the UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestine warned of a “serious risk of genocide” in Gaza.

By the time of the incident in Saint John, the death toll in Gaza had surpassed 18,000, including at least 7,729 children, while Israel’s death toll stood at 1,147 civilians, according to Al Jazeera.

Some community groups condemned the behaviour of Long and his staff member after the footage circulated on social media.

“This incident raised a serious and valid concern in the irresponsible way our elected Parliament representative acted in public,” said a Dec. 23 joint statement from the Muslim Association of NB, the Islamic Society of NB, and the Immigrant Relief Community Centre.

“The incident was captured on video and it clearly showed Mr. Wayne Long publicly shamed the protestors, and his colleague called them terrorists and racially insensitive comments…. Calling for a ceasefire and an end to killing innocent lives does not mean that a person is a terrorist.”

Independent Jewish Voices NB also released a statement on Jan. 15 calling for a “thorough investigation by the Liberal Party of Canada into the actions of MP Wayne Long” and the staffer, saying the MP should resign.

“The serious incident, recorded on video, amounts to anti-Palestinian racism and unethical conduct unbecoming of an elected representative.”

On Thursday, Long published a statement on Facebook expressing regret over the incident.

“I understand that my words were hurtful and inappropriate, unintentionally impacting some Muslim community members,” Long said in his statement. “I regret the incident and for any distress caused.”

He also stated said that some protesters have engaged in what he called intimidation.

“I allowed myself to react to two individuals who crossed the line from respectful protest to what has been mounting and ongoing intimidation against myself and my office,” he stated without elaborating about the alleged intimidation.

The Saint John Police wouldn’t comment on whether Long’s office had laid any complaints about intimidation, citing privacy issues.

Long’s statement called, in part, for “open dialogue, balanced conversations, and a united effort to overcome challenges.”

Mohammad Niazi, president of the Muslim Association of NB, expressed appreciation for Long’s apology and “his recognition that his words and actions have hurt the Muslim community.”

Following a meeting with the MP, “our collective focus is moving forward positively and collaborating to overcome challenges,” he said in an email to the NB Media Co-op.

He added that the MANB affirms “support for the rights of all Canadians to express their opinions and engage in peaceful assemblies, including peaceful rallies and protests,” citing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“We also advocate for an end to the suffering and loss of innocent lives, and thus, we endorse Canada’s vote at the United Nations for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza,” he said, a reference to a non-binding resolution passed in the General Assembly on Dec. 12.

But activists from the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Saint John rejected what it called a “performative expression of remorse,” and they renewed demands for an investigation. They also called for the resignation of Long, and the removal of Arsenault from her job.

The group previously outlined those demands in a petition that had gathered more than 2,940 names by Tuesday. Long’s office in Saint John declined multiple requests for comment.

Activists have taken issue with what they call the MP’s “anti-Palestine stance and refusal to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Helmi Yousif, a Gaza-born Canadian citizen who lives and works in Saint John “has lost 55 relatives due to Israeli bombings of civilians in his hometown,” the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Saint John said last month.

By Tuesday, that figure had risen to 80 family members killed and 20 missing, he said in an email to the NB Media Co-op.

According to the group, Long has contributed to local tensions by associating pro-Palestinian voices with anti-semitism and terrorism.

Activists have expressed concerns about a climate of heightened anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hostility.

Supporters of the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Saint John have experienced “two physical attacks” during protests since the outbreak of war, according to the group.

This article was edited at approximately 1 p.m. on Jan 23, 2024, to include a response from the Muslim Association of NB, and to provide an update about the number of family members killed or missing in Gaza as reported by a member of the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Saint John. 

David Gordon Koch is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Stations and Users (CACTUS).