Charlotte Kates: An opportunist exploiting the Palestinian cause?

By Josie Simon, November 12 2024—

With Canada and the U.S. designating Samidoun—the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network—as a terrorist organization, attention has shifted to Charlotte Kates, one of its co-founders. Allegations allege that Kates is exploiting the Palestinian cause for her radical agenda, raising questions about her role as a potential grifter leveraging humanitarian concerns for extremist purposes.

Kates has become a lightning rod for controversy, particularly following her remarks at a recent protest in Vancouver. Demonstrators, encouraged by Kates’ rhetoric, chanted “death to Canada” and burned the Canadian flag—a stark illustration of the chaos bred by her brand of activism. 

Central to the outcry is Kates’ praise for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which she called “heroic.” During the same protest, she also exclaimed, “Long live October 7.” Far from being a benign endorsement, such statements celebrate violence and misappropriate the Palestinian cause, twisting it to fit an extreme narrative. This rhetoric can wrongly suggest that Palestinians favour violence and the death of Jews, which is not true for many seeking peace through non-violent means. Such statements undermine genuine peace efforts and perpetuate division, detracting from constructive dialogue and solutions.

Kates’ affiliations add to the confusion surrounding her true intentions. Allegations of her involvement in seminars supporting groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah raise serious concerns about whether her motivations are truly humanitarian or if she is twisting the narrative for personal or ideological gain. Her involvement with Samidoun, which authorities have labelled a “sham charity” for reportedly channelling funds to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), highlights a worrying trend of exploiting the Palestinian rights cause for extremist purposes.

These actions exacerbate harmful stereotypes and fuel Islamophobia, directly undermining the credibility of legitimate Palestinian struggles. By presenting herself as a champion for the oppressed while promoting extremist rhetoric, Kates detracts from genuine issues requiring advocacy, diverting focus and resources away from authentic humanitarian needs.

In light of these concerns, the designation of Samidoun as a terrorist organization is a necessary measure to separate genuine advocates from those who exploit for personal or ideological gain. This distinction is vital for ensuring that support reaches its intended beneficiaries, those genuinely striving for peace and justice, rather than being co-opted for extremist purposes.

As discussions on Palestinian rights progress, distinguishing between true advocacy and those manipulating the cause for personal agendas remains pivotal, especially considering the tragic loss of 44,142 Palestinians. 

We must remain vigilant in supporting authentic humanitarian efforts, ensuring that the voices leading these movements are committed to dialogue, peace and justice, free from the shadow of opportunistic actors like Kates. By identifying and challenging such grifters within the movement, we can work towards more constructive and credible advocacy for all involved.

This article is a part of our Opinions section and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gauntlet editorial board.