On Friday night, a significant anti-NATO and pro-Palestine protest unfolded at the Montreal Convention Centre, where a video captured scenes of chaos, including windows being shattered and a flare emitting a plume of red smoke. This demonstration coincided with a NATO summit in the city, where delegates gathered to deliberate crucial issues such as support for Ukraine, climate change, and the future trajectory of the military alliance.
The Globe and Mail
The Montreal police found themselves in confrontations with demonstrators, resulting in three individuals being taken into custody.
Multiple videos circulating on social media platforms depicted protesters aggressively trying to break windows at the downtown convention centre, while police responded by charging at them, deploying tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Early in the protests, the Montreal police took to X to announce that they had executed “a dispersal operation” due to “several infractions committed during the ongoing protest.”
A police spokesperson, Véronique Dubuc, confirmed that two men aged 22 and 28, along with a 22-year-old woman, were arrested on charges of obstructing law enforcement officials in their duties. The woman additionally faced charges for assaulting a peace officer.
Ms. Dubuc reported that both a civilian and an officer sustained minor injuries amid the confrontations.
A frame grab from video shows a pro-Palestinian protest in downtown Montreal on Friday that police said led to three arrests.Scopal via Reuters
However, Benoît Allard, a spokesperson from Divest for Palestine—the organizing group behind the protest—indicated that four protesters required hospitalization following the altercations.
Two individuals experienced respiratory distress due to police chemicals, while another suffered a broken arm, and one person needed stitches on a head injury, potentially suffering a concussion after being struck by a police baton, Allard reported.
Allard condemned the police reaction, stating, “What we saw yesterday was a lot of violence from the police,” during an interview on Saturday.
The aftermath of the protest saw several windows and glass doors at the convention centre boarded up, as police continued their patrols of the area.
With more demonstrations anticipated throughout the weekend as the NATO parliamentary assembly convenes in Montreal from November 22 to 25, Ms. Dubuc noted that police are prepared for potential interventions as necessary.
NATO delegates from various member and partner nations are engaging in discussions focused on essential global issues like support for Ukraine, climate change, and the organization’s future plans.
The protesting groups are taking a stand against military budget increases and condemning what they refer to as “Canadian complicity in the genocide in Palestine” through the nation’s support of Israel.
According to Gaza officials, the ongoing Israeli campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 44,000 deaths and has displaced nearly the entire population of the area at least once over the past 13 months. Additionally, strikes from Israeli forces have claimed at least 3,645 lives in Lebanon since October 2023, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry.
The statistics released do not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
At a press conference during the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defense Minister Bill Blair voiced strong disapproval of the protesters’ actions.
Ms. Joly remarked, “What we saw was not a peaceful protest. What we saw was actually violence, hate, and antisemitism, and this has no place on our streets.”
She emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate but stated that violence is where the line must be drawn.
Mr. Blair characterized the demonstration as an act of “anarchy” fueled by a “mob,” asserting it bore no resemblance to lawful, peaceful protests.
He described the protests as “engagement in violence and hatred on display in the City of Montreal,” reiterating that such behavior is unacceptable and reaffirming the need to condemn the hatred and antisemitism that manifested during the event.
With reports from the Associated Press and The Canadian Press
**What were the main goals of the anti-NATO and pro-Palestine protest in Montreal, and how did the organizers aim to achieve them?**
**Interview on the Anti-NATO and Pro-Palestine Protest in Montreal**
**Host:** Welcome back to our program. Today, we’re discussing the recent anti-NATO and pro-Palestine protest that took place in Montreal on Friday, coinciding with a NATO summit. Joining me is Benoît Allard, a spokesperson from Divest for Palestine, the group that organized the demonstration. Thank you for being here, Benoît.
**Benoît Allard:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** First off, could you describe the atmosphere during the protest? We’ve seen videos showing significant chaos, including broken windows and police using tear gas.
**Benoît Allard:** The atmosphere was charged and intense. While many participants were there peacefully voicing their opposition to NATO actions and expressing solidarity with Palestine, there was a clear escalation when police intervened. We witnessed a heavy-handed response from law enforcement that led to confrontations, which intensified the situation.
**Host:** In terms of the police response, reports indicate that three individuals were arrested, and there were injuries reported. Can you elaborate on that?
**Benoît Allard:** Yes, according to our observations and subsequent medical reports, while police confirmed three arrests, we also experienced serious injuries among the protestors. Four were hospitalized—two with respiratory issues due to police chemicals, one with a broken arm, and another needed stitches for a head injury after being struck. We strongly condemn the police’s violent actions during the protest.
**Host:** There are statements from police indicating that they executed a dispersal operation due to infractions during the protests. How do you respond to that claim?
**Benoît Allard:** We believe this framing is misleading. Our goal was to peacefully demonstrate against military budget increases and what we see as Canadian complicity in Israel’s actions against Palestine. The police’s deployment of tear gas and pepper spray was an excessive reaction and not justified for the kind of demonstration we planned.
**Host:** Looking ahead, the NATO parliamentary assembly is continuing through the weekend. What can we expect from the protest organizers in terms of further demonstrations?
**Benoît Allard:** We anticipate that additional protests will occur as we aim to maintain pressure on NATO and highlight our messages. Our coalition and others are committed to peaceful assemblies, and we want to ensure our voices are heard loud and clear, especially concerning issues like military spending and international human rights.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Benoît. It’s important to consider all perspectives in such tense situations.
**Benoît Allard:** Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
**Host:** That was Benoît Allard from Divest for Palestine discussing the recent protests in Montreal. We’ll continue to monitor the situation as it develops throughout the NATO summit weekend. Stay tuned for further updates.
