May’s selective outrage raises questions about party values, priorities, and the meaning of “non-violence”
On May 22, the Green Party of Canada issued a rare official press release to publicly condemn former youth candidate Jayden Baldonado, after comments he made about a violent incident in Washington appeared to express sympathy—or at least understanding—for the murder of two Israeli diplomats.
The party’s statement was unambiguous:
“The Green Party of Canada unequivocally denounces all forms of violence, including the appalling remarks made by Jayden Baldonado… These comments are completely unacceptable and violate the Party’s Code of Conduct.”
The press release goes on to announce an internal investigation and clarifies that the party has been unable to reach Baldonado, whose social media accounts have since disappeared.
Baldonado’s comments—if they indeed celebrated or justified murder— would cross a moral line. But what stands out to many observers is not just what the Green Party condemned, but what it continues to ignore.
“Elizabeth May’s Green Party will issue a full press release denouncing a youth candidate for inflammatory remarks,” said one party member, “but they’ve never once condemned Jayden Braves, a teenager trained and affiliated with the NATO Association of Canada who openly promotes militarism, imperialism, and Western military expansion both inside and outside the party.”
Braves, the former youth wing president, also known as the “NATO kid” has been widely criticized by anti-war Greens for celebrating NATO, pushing military alignment, and using the language of “democracy vs. disinformation” that mirrors U.S. State Department narratives. Just weeks ago he published a video of his self firing a semi automatic firearm while leaning on a NATO flag. Yet despite these actions and his direct affiliation to NATO the party has remained completely silent about his situation and has instead chose to lash out at his critics.
Even more glaring is the contrast with how the party leadership has handled the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Since October 7th, over 61,000 Palestinians—many of them children—have been killed. Human rights experts, UN agencies, and even Canada’s own allies have accused Israel of using starvation, mass bombardment, and civilian displacement as weapons of war.
And yet, Elizabeth May has avoided calling it a genocide. She has not called for sanctions despite the fact that even the Canadian government is now threatening to do so.
Instead, on the first anniversary of October 7th, May released a carefully worded statement that read:
“The bell that tolls the loudest is for those who died on October 7th.”
The message was clear: sympathy and remembrance for Israeli victims only. No acknowledgement of the disproportionate death toll. No grief for children buried under rubble.
The party’s latest press release targeting now deleted comments from their own former candidate is consistent their pattern of selective outrage.
The contrast is damning:
• Jayden Baldonado is condemned, investigated, and disavowed.
• Jayden Braves is promoted and protected.
• Palestinian lives are ignored or politically inconvenient while loss of Jewish life is given more importance or value.
All this raises a deeper question: what does “non-violence” mean to Elizabeth May’s Green Party?
If “non-violence” means never endorsing retaliatory rhetoric, then why the silence on state violence, military occupation, and ethnic cleansing? Why no condemnation of Canada’s complicity through support for Israel? Why not a word about the role of U.S. militarism in enabling this genocide?
Jayden Baldonado is a young environmental activist from Calgary with a background in student leadership, direct action, and anti-oppression politics. He has studied Environmental Science at Mount Royal University and previously earned a diploma in Environmental Technology from SAIT, where he also served on the student association’s board. A former Green Party of Alberta executive, Baldonado is known for his advocacy against capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy, and has participated in protests and mutual aid campaigns. Inspired by Greta Thunberg, he became active in both federal and provincial Green parties, running as a candidate in Calgary-East during the 2023 Alberta election.
