Dozens of people took to the streets of Vancouver on Sunday to march against hate and terrorism in the Middle East and beyond.While the event focused on the situation in Israel, it drew a diverse coalition of attendees who advocated for peace and freedom from extremism all over the world..The march began downtown at the north end of the Cambie Bridge. The line of demonstrators snaked their way along the narrow sidewalk to Olympic Village before crossing 2nd Ave. and heading back over. Along the way, they spread messages of hope and optimism with one another, each sharing the impact terrorism had had on their respective communities..Halfway across the span, British, Indian, Canadian, American, and pre-Islamic regime Iranian flags hung in unison around an Israeli flag that read "We stand with Israel." .Attendees paused there, waving their own flags and signs as cars drove by. The vast majority of those who took time to react honked in support of the message. Only one driver rolled down his window to yell, "F*ck Israel.".Upon returning downtown, demonstrators congregated in Coopers Park and were treated to speeches, first from organizer Masha Kleiner, then Mr. Cohen, a special guest from Israel who was touring North America to spread a message of peace."When I see all of you, and when I see the Jewish community and the allies from Iran, from India, from elsewhere, it shows me that we really are stronger together," he said. "We will win, and we will be free, and b’esras Hashem, we will have peace; all of us, all countries in the Middle East and the entire world.".Cohen's sentiments were shared by a Hindu attendee, who expressed his community's solidarity with Jews and any other victims of extremism. "We stand for peace," he declared. "We stand against hate."
