Anti-NATO protesters in Montreal demand Canada withdraws from alliance

Anti-NATO protesters gathered again successful Montreal connected Saturday to request Canada retreat from the alliance, a time aft a objection organized by antithetic groups resulted successful arrests, burned cars and shattered windows.

About 80 radical attended Saturday’s anti-NATO protestation successful the city’s downtown country organized by Le Mouvement Québécois determination la Paix, holding signs that work “Canada retired of NATO” and chanting “solidarity with Palestine.”

Several successful attendance held Communist Party of Canada flags portion others held Palestinian flags.

Jad Kabbanji, president of Le Mouvement Québécois determination la Paix, said Canada should garbage to conscionable NATO subject spending targets.

He besides said that contempt calling itself a antiaircraft alliance, NATO has destabilized aggregate regions crossed the globe and created subject conflicts, notably successful the Middle East and eastbound Europe.

Kabbanji said Israel’s subject run successful Gaza would not beryllium imaginable without the arms provided by NATO members similar the United States, and that a argumentation of progressively accepting countries that were formerly portion of the Soviet Union “pushed Russia to invade Ukraine.”

Politicians successful the premier minister’s cabinet, absorption parties arsenic good arsenic Quebec leaders person called the unit during Friday’s anti-NATO objection acts of anti-Semitism, but protesters contradict the claim, saying they demonstrated against the “complicity” of NATO subordinate countries successful a warfare that has killed thousands of Palestinians.

Police said protestors deployed fume bombs, threw metallic barriers into the thoroughfare and smashed windows of businesses and astatine the normal centre wherever NATO delegates person been meeting.

Police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc said officers arrested 3 radical for assaulting an serviceman and “impeding constabulary work,” pursuing a objection that began precocious day Friday. She said a civilian and an serviceman suffered insignificant injuries.

Friday’s protestation was organized by the groups Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles.

Benoît Allard, a subordinate of Divest for Palestine, said helium and respective different protesters were injured by constabulary and astatine slightest 4 protesters had to spell to hospital.

He said the intent of the protestation was to show against what helium called NATO’s “complicity with Israel’s subject portion it’s conducting its genocide successful Gaza, … warfare crimes successful Lebanon, Syria” and that “it’s enforcing amerciable concern of Palestinian territories.”

On Saturday day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Friday’s scenes “appalling.”

“Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and unit indispensable beryllium condemned wherever we spot them,” helium said connected X.

“There indispensable beryllium consequences, and rioters held accountable.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre connected X accused the premier curate of being “too engaged to condemn a convulsive Hamas takeover of our streets.”

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He past followed up with a lengthy connection saying Trudeau has transformed Canada into “a playground for overseas interference.”

Quebec Premier François Legault besides described the scenes arsenic anti-Semitic.

“Burning cars and smashing windows is not astir sending a message, it’s astir causing chaos. Such acts person nary spot successful a peaceful nine similar Quebec,” helium wrote.

However, Divest for Palestine’s Allard rejected accusations of anti-Semitism. He said the protests were against the actions of the authorities of Israel and not Jewish people, adding that earlier this week the International Criminal Court issued an apprehension warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Thursday, the tribunal said successful a quality merchandise that determination were tenable grounds to judge Netanyahu committed “the warfare transgression of starvation arsenic a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and different inhumane acts.”

Greg Beaune, the group’s vice-president, said the radical condemns Russia’s penetration of Ukraine but added NATO has helped provoke struggle successful the region.

Group subordinate Rana El Gharbie said she does not enactment convulsive protestation but added that Canadians are becoming progressively frustrated by Canada’s enactment for Israel and “lack of action” successful protecting Palestinians.

Delegates from NATO subordinate states and spouse countries are successful Montreal this play to sermon issues including enactment for Ukraine, clime alteration and the aboriginal of the alliance.

—with files from The Canadian Press’ Sammy Hudes and Global News’ Nathaniel Dove