John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook:

John Clarke

This is the poem that the Toronto Public Library removed at the urging of Zionist organization B’nai Brith. The accusers draw on the standard racist notion that Palestinian resistance is the product of a barbaric love of death, rather than a struggle for life and freedom.

That there are those who wallow in such bigotry and resort to such political gangsterism is unfortunate. That the library system in this city will pander to their outrageous demands and impose such appalling censorship is utterly shocking and totally unacceptable.

Read the poem. Share the poem. See what they say “glorifies martyrdom.” Remember that he was, in fact, targeted and killed.

If I must die

by Refaat Alareer (1979 – 2023)

If I must die,

you must live

to tell my story

to sell my things

to buy a piece of cloth

and some strings,

(make it white with a long tail)

so that a child, somewhere in Gaza

while looking heaven in the eye

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze–

and bid no one farewell

not even to his flesh

not even to himself–

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above

and thinks for a moment an angel is there

bringing back love

If I must die

let it bring hope

let it be a tale