Thousands of people demonstrated their support for the Palestinian people on Sunday afternoon in downtown Montreal.
The demonstration, under the theme “Palestine is calling you”, kicked off at 2 p.m. at Dorchester Square. The demonstrators notably denounced the bombing of a hospital in Gaza which left hundreds dead last Tuesday. According to Hamas, the strike was carried out by Israel. For its part, Israel blames a rocket fired from Gaza.
“I’m here to say enough is enough. What is happening here is completely inhumane. The Palestinian people are being massacred and killed on a daily basis,” said Amine Ferhat, with his 4-year-old son at his side. “I came with my son in this cold to pass the baton to him in case we fail to have Palestine completely free. »
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The delegation walked on René-Lévesque Boulevard and Stanley Street before taking a break in front of the United States Consulate on Sainte-Catherine Street. “Solidarity with Palestine,” protesters chanted in the rain. Above the crowd, Palestinian flags fluttered in the wind and fireworks were launched.
“We are here to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and an approach to peace,” declared solidarity MP Alejandra Zaga Mendez who was present at the demonstration. Québec solidaire and the Independent Jewish Voices Montreal association jointly called for a ceasefire on Friday.
” We must act ”
“What is happening in Palestine is such a tragedy that we absolutely must react and let the Canadian government know that we do not want this to continue,” declared Martine Eloy, who is part of the failure collective. the war.
Many police officers and the cavalry of the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) accompanied the march. Organizers also called on demonstrators not to interact with counter-protesters they might encounter.
“It’s important that the world talks about the genocide happening in Palestine. We must act,” declared Maroua Taouaou. “In my family, we have been talking about what is happening in Palestine for years, it is not something new. It’s important to know that it has an impact on generations,” she added.
For his part, David Longpré came to demonstrate for “injustice, oppression and crime”. “This has to stop. »