Relations between the pro-Palestinian occupiers and the neighborhood at Victoria Square in Montreal remain good five days after the establishment of the encampment. The traders and employees of the sector met by The Press say they are okay with the presence of tents and barricades, but many denounce the fact that the statue of Queen Victoria has been vandalized.
“ [La peinture], let them put that on their tents, on their signs, I have no problem, but let them not touch the works of art,” denounces Dominique Perron, producer of the Midi Montréal Center-ville concerts at Victoria Square. , met on site on Wednesday. He nevertheless says he respects the presence of the occupants.
About a hundred people took advantage of the lunch hour to get some fresh air on the grass or on park benches in Victoria Square. A musical performance on piano and flute added to the calm atmosphere. At the other end of the square, the presence of tents surrounded by plastic canvas covered with pro-Palestinian slogans contrasted with the usual summer crowd.
Since June 22, approximately 150 protesters, according to participants’ estimates, have been coming and going in the encampment occupying the southern half of this square in downtown Montreal.
Benoît Allard, spokesperson for the Disinvestment for Palestine collective, which participates in the occupation, identifies two demands: “Obtain immediate divestment [par la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec] shares obtained in companies complicit in the occupation of Palestine by the State of Israel and obtain the closure of the Quebec office in Tel Aviv. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The demonstrators have two main demands: “Obtain immediate divestment [par la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec] shares obtained in companies complicit in the occupation of Palestine by the State of Israel and obtain the closure of the Quebec office in Tel Aviv. »
The statue of Queen Victoria in the center of the park named in her honor was sprayed with paint and covered with pro-Palestinian slogans. The same day, a counter-demonstration was held by groups demanding the encampment be lifted. The two camps faced each other for a long time, but everything went smoothly.
No arrests were made in connection with this event, according to the SPVM.
The mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, affirms that the City will be tolerant towards the demonstrators, as long as they make themselves heard respectfully.
Acts of intimidation and vandalism are unacceptable, as are anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim comments. But the war in Gaza comes for people. It’s normal for them to try to express their anger or their feeling of helplessness. They need a valve.
Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal
Majority indifference
The vast majority of people approached by The Press in the square on Wednesday were little bothered by the encampment. Many emphasize their agreement with the cause, but doubt the usefulness of this type of approach.
“It’s going pretty well, they’re calm. […] But personally, I think that it’s not going to change anything,” says Carlos Mejia, met in front of the building where he works in Victoria Square.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The vast majority of people approached by The Press in the square on Wednesday were little bothered by the encampment.
Furthermore, the traders interviewed are not very troubled by the occupation. “There are a lot of police in the area, but as a merchant, around the restaurant, we really have no impact,” notes Victor Colette, director of the Stellina restaurant located on rue Saint-Jacques across the square.
Same story with Gerry Desjardins, a florist who has had a shop for 37 years opposite the metro station entrance. “ [Les occupants] have been peaceful since they were here. » According to him, his sales have not declined since the start of the occupation adjacent to his business.
“The vast majority of interactions we have with the people around us are extremely positive,” confirms Benoît Allard. Even if certain interactions with passers-by are more tense, their share remains “very minor”.
“The statue of Queen Victoria is a colonial symbol”
However, sympathy for the occupation often stops when it comes to the vandalism of the statue.
“If the Palestinians want to have the support of Montrealers, they should stop vandalizing our city,” said François Theoret, an employee in a nearby office, while taking a photo of the temporarily multicolored statue.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The statue of Queen Victoria in the center of the park of the same name was sprayed with paint and covered with pro-Palestinian slogans.
“It cleans up, I don’t think it’s a long-term problem. If they want to be heard, that’s normal,” says Marc Delgado, who also works nearby.
“The statue of Queen Victoria is a colonial symbol,” says Benoît Allard, when asked about this. “What does more damage to the city between a little paint on a colonial symbol or the silence of our public institutions […] on the ongoing genocide? », he adds.
Peter Villani, one of the organizers of the demonstration to break the encampment held on Tuesday, calls for action to be taken against the occupants. “The authorities need to say that this is over and that people should be able to enjoy a public space that is supposed to be accessible to everyone,” he said.
Protesters attempted to topple the statue Monday evening.
With the collaboration of Isabelle Ducas, The Press