A coalition of pro-Palestinian groups brought together a crowd of protesters in downtown Montreal on Saturday afternoon. Among his demands: the closure of the Quebec office in Tel Aviv and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Chants of support for the Palestinian people echoed through La Fontaine Park, where a crowd of demonstrators had gathered around 2 p.m. Organized by the Coalition du Québec URGENCE Palestine, the demonstration attracted people of all ages, student groups, and various organizations, including Québec solidaire.
In particular, the demonstrators demanded the closure of the Quebec office in Tel Aviv, which was due to open this summer. “It’s a shame,” said Raymond Legault, a spokesman for the coalition. “Until the aggression against Gaza ends, now is the time to break off cooperation with Israel,” he added.
Photo by Josie Desmarais, The Press
The demonstration began in La Fontaine Park to join the pro-Palestinian camp established on the McGill University campus.
Demonstrators also demanded Canada and Quebec impose sanctions on Israel, which has been waging a bloody war against Hamas since October 7. “There is general anger in Quebec civil society over the genocide in Gaza,” added Raymond Legault.
Peaceful people made a remarkable crossing through the Plateau Mont-Royal, in front of Boulevard Saint-Laurent, pedestrianized for the Pop Montreal festival. “30,000 civilians killed!” 15,000 children killed! “, the demonstrators chanted, drawing attention and some applause from the festival-goers.
A red line
Mercier’s Unity MP, Rupa Gajal, marched among the demonstrators, a keffiyeh draped over her shoulders. For a politician of Palestinian descent, Quebec continuing to do business with Israel in the current climate is unthinkable. “Where is the red line drawn by the CAQ government? » she said.
The demonstration continued through the city center, ending in front of the pro-Palestinian camp set up a month earlier on the McGill University campus.
According to Zayad, a member of the Solidarity Committee for Palestinian Human Rights at Concordia University, the student movement helped promote the Palestinian cause by setting up camps on university campuses. “But atrocities and genocide are what drive people to the streets,” the young man said on the sidelines of the demonstration.
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