Vancouver Public Library defends policy that prevents staff from wearing Palestinian symbols [Video]

The head of the Vancouver Public Library is defending a policy that dictates what symbols its roughly 800 staff can wear while at work, amid concerns from employees that the rules unfairly single out symbols that show support for Palestinians.

VPL’s interim chief librarian and CEO Dawn Ibey said Monday in an interview with CBC News that the VPL’s policy applies to all political symbols. 

“We’re not singling out any particular symbol, but the goal of the policy is to ensure that all employees have a safe and respectful workplace that’s free from bullying, harassment and discrimination,” she said.

The concerns stem from a meeting that took place last summer during which employees were asking then-VPL CEO and chief librarian Christina de Castell for clarification about which symbols are acceptable.

One employee said they heard that staff were asked not to wear watermelon pins, which have become a global symbol …