Three participants in a protest against the NATO bloc in Montreal were detained after protesters clashed with police.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has joined federal cabinet ministers and other politicians in condemning Friday night’s anti-NATO demonstration in Montreal, calling the protesters’ actions “appalling.”
According to CBS, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says, On X (Formerly Twitter) “What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling,” he wrote. “Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them.”
He said the RCMP is in touch with local police, adding “there must be consequences and rioters held accountable.”
Speaking to reporters at the Halifax International Security Forum earlier Saturday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair said the actions of the protesters were unacceptable.
According to him, the action took place on the evening of November 22 against the backdrop of the 70th annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that opened in Montreal. It is reported that the participants in the action threw smoke bombs and other objects at police officers and also broke windows in some buildings.
What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling. Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them.
The RCMP are in communication with local police. There must be consequences, and rioters held accountable.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 23, 2024
According to CTV , one of the protest’s organizers was a local pro-Palestinian group.
The anti-NATO protesters have already been condemned by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. “What we saw was not a peaceful protest,” she said, speaking at the Halifax Security Forum. “It was violence, hatred and anti-Semitism, and that has no place on our streets.” She added that the Canadian government “believes in freedom of speech.”
