(Toronto) Canada’s biggest literary evening was interrupted when several anti-Israel protesters took the stage early in the evening during a live broadcast of the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Waving signs reading “Scotiabank is financing genocide” and shouting, the demonstrators briefly attracted all the attention of a room full of dignitaries gathered to crown the winner of Canada’s most prestigious literary prize.
The CBC cameras broadcasting the show to viewers moved away from the stage as host Rick Mercer clapped slowly in an apparent attempt to get the show back on track.
There was already a heavy police presence at the ceremony, and officers escorted the protesters out of the hotel within minutes.
One of the five writers was to receive the $100,000 prize.
Finalists included Sarah Bernstein for “Study for Obedience,” Eleanor Catton for “Birnam Wood” and Kevin Chong for “The Double Life of Benson Yu.” The shortlist was rounded out by “The Islands: Stories” by Dionne Irving and “All the Color in the World” by CS Richardson.