Montreal – Zaytoun News
Canadian Federal cabinet ministers and other politicians are condemning an anti-NATO demonstration in Montreal on Friday night, describing protesters’ actions as a display of “violence and hatred.”
Montreal police say at least three people were arrested after protests turned violent, with demonstrators throwing objects at police, lighting two vehicles on fire and breaking windows.
Police say that during the march, smoke bombs were deployed, metal barriers were thrown into the street and windows of businesses and at the convention centre were smashed.
Delegates from NATO member states and partner countries are in Montreal this weekend to discuss issues including support for Ukraine, climate change and the future of the alliance.
The protest was planned by the groups Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly condemned the protests in a Saturday morning post on social media platform X, saying that “rioting is not peaceful protest and has no place in Montreal or anywhere in Canada.”
“Those who spread hate and antisemitism, use violence, loot and destroy property must be condemned and held accountable,” she added.
Police spokesperson Manuel Couture says the demonstrators were completely dispersed at around 7 p.m.
The demonstrations come as the world’s top war-crimes court, the International Criminal Court, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity.
More than 44,000 Palestinian people have been killed by Israeli forces since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza health authorities, who say more than half of those were women and children. Thousands more are buried under rubble or threatened by illness and injuries, according to the United Nations.
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