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In a continuous effort to honour our commitment to intersectionality and the liberation of all peoples, St. John’s Pride has engaged in dialogue with Palestine Action YYT. Recognizing the significance of inclusivity and solidarity, we have invited Palestine Action YYT to lead this year’s Pride Parade. We remain dedicated to using the festival platform to amplify and support the voices of marginalized communities.
In our conversations, Palestine Action YYT, along with representatives from allied groups, proposed commitments for Pride to consider to guide meaningful, inclusive participation and action in the parade and festival. Their proposal document is available to review below.
In a board meeting on June 19, 2024, the board voted to adopt these commitments.
Key commitments include:
After consultation and reflection, the Board of Directors concluded these actions align with the spirit of Pride. We stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable members of our community and will work in good faith to implement all commitments. We acknowledge the need for ongoing work beyond the 2024 festival and thank our partners for their patience and engagement. For more information visit stjpride.ca/statements
Pride is here. Pride is for everyone. We are committed to the liberation of all of us, not some of us.
In solidarity,
St. John's Pride Board of Directors
Palestine Action YYT (PAYYT) Conditions of Engagement
We’re excited that St. John’s Pride has expressed interest in collaborating with Palestine Action YYT and connecting the Palestinian struggle with the long struggle for queer liberation. We feel this represents an opportunity for Pride to reaffirm its commitment to intersectionality and get back to its foundation as a struggle for liberation for all. The following 3 conditions are essential to creating an organization that can be safer and more welcoming for all, including racialized people. We would ask that Pride commit to enshrining these conditions in the by-laws of the organization so they carry forward into the future.
1) BDS – We ask that Pride boycott and divest from all institutions identified on the BDS list including TD Bank. Boycott includes disallowing institutions identified by BDS from advertising with corporate trademarks and symbols in the parade. We ask that Pride release a public statement committing to BDS and to cutting ties with TD. With regard to TD specifically, it violates BDS and the arms embargo with $16 million invested in General Dynamics which sells arms and military equipment to Israel. TD Bank is also a major supporter of Coastal Gas Link which is attacking the land and water of the Wet’suwet’en nation. We have attached a list of BDS targets adapted for St. John’s.
2) Police – We ask that Pride publicly commit to a police-free festival, including in the parade. This includes uniformed police and participants wearing any symbols or insignia associated with law enforcement.
3) Community engagement – We ask that Pride commit a) to reconciling with Indigenous and racialized community members and b) to representation of Indigenous and racialized people at the board level.
In addition to these conditions we ask that Palestine Action YYT be given the opportunity to address attendees at the conclusion of this year’s parade.
Sincerely,
Palestine Action YYT
Boycott List [Current as of May 2024]
Airbnb
McDonald’s
Amazon
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
PayPal
BP (British Petroleum)
PepsiCo
Burt’s Bees
Puma
Chevron
RE/MAX
CIBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
COMSA Corporación
Scotiabank
Exxon Mobil
Sephora
General Mills
SodaStream
GlobaleSIM
Tempo Beverages
TD Bank
Hewlett Packard
TEVA Pharmaceuticals
HSBC.
TripAdvisor
Indigo/ Chapters Inc.
Walmart
Kraken Robotics
Wix – Web management company
Loblaws (No Frills)
