April 26, 2024
Anthony Kiendl, CEO and Director
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby Street
Vancouver BC V6Z 2H7
Dear Mr. Kiendl:
Over the previous weekend, an antisemitic mob used the real estate of your institution to deliver a message of hatred and a celebration of violence. One of the leaders stood on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery and described the October 7, 2023 massacre of Israeli civilians as "heroic and brave". Here's the link to the video as published by CIJA. We have no reason to question its authenticity. https://twitter.com/i/status/1784390201952940427
That's the equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan gathering on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery and proclaiming the lynching of Emmett Till to be "heroic and brave".
Either you're in control over your institution's property or you're not. You certainly have the ability to engage security guards to protect your institution from serving as the backdrop and venue of KKK-style rallies. It's your responsibility.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is a public institution that receives money from all levels of government - federal, provincial and local. The people of Vancouver, British Columbia, and all of Canada have the right to have their money not directed toward providing material support to terrorist sympathizers.
It's high time you got your security guards to serve these haters with a trespass order, and escort them off VAG property.
Yours truly,
Andria Spindel
cc. Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver
Hon. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia
Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts
Richard Marceau, Vice President External Affairs and General Counsel, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs