“The (outbreak of violence) during the demonstration yesterday is shocking and has no place in a peaceful metropolis like Montreal,” Mayor Valérie Plante posted on X.
Three people were arrested after pro-Palestinian, anti-NATO protesters smashed windows, clashed with police officers and set vehicles ablaze on Friday evening.
“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,” Trudeau wrote on X late Saturday morning.
The protest coincided with the arrival of about 300 delegates from NATO member states and partner countries attending a high-level summit, running from Nov. 22 to 25 in Montreal, focused on Ukraine, climate change and the alliance’s future. It was the second day of a wave of student-wide pro-Palestinian protests across Montreal.
While the demonstration was underway, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was attending the Taylor Swift concert in Toronto, La Presse Canadienne reported Saturday. Trudeau’s office confirmed he was attending the concert with members of his family, and a videos were shared online of him dancing at the show.
Trudeau’s presence at the concert, juxtaposed with the escalating violence in Montreal, was condemned widely on social media, including by leader of the opposition Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre.
“Violent mobs riot and rampage through beautiful Montreal, typifying the chaos that is engulfing our once-peaceful country after 9 years of Trudeau’s radical, divisive agenda. Trudeau fiddles while Montreal burns,” he wrote, alluding to the concert.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante spoke out against in the violence in a statement posted on X early Saturday.
“The (outbreak of violence) during the demonstration yesterday is shocking and has no place in a peaceful metropolis like Montreal,” Plante wrote. “Neither chaos, nor violence nor vandalism towards merchants are tolerated and I thank (Montreal police) who made several arrests yesterday.”
Plante’s comments echoed those made by interim opposition leader Aref Salem 11 hours earlier.
“These intolerable acts have no purpose,” Salem wrote. “The silence of the Plante administration is resonating.”
Late Friday afternoon, an initial group of protesters had gathered at Émilie-Gamelin Parc downtown before marching toward the Quartier des Spectacles, according to Manuel Couture, a spokesperson for the Montreal police. By 5:30 p.m., another group had converged at Place des Arts, and the two demonstrations merged.
The protesters then marched down St-Urbain St. At 6:10 p.m., tensions escalated as demonstrators set an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on fire in the middle of the crowd. As the march continued, objects — including small explosive devices and metal items — were hurled into the street, targeting police officers. By 6:40 p.m., protesters had smashed shop windows near St-Urbain and René-Lévesque Blvd., and set two vehicles ablaze.
Couture said police deployed chemical irritants and conducted crowd-dispersal manoeuvres to regain control. Three protesters were arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers and obstructing police work.
Federal ministers condemned the violence carried out by rioters during a demonstration against NATO which took place on Friday in Montreal, denouncing in particular acts of anti-Semitism.
The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) indicated it had arrested three people during the demonstration. Two men, age 22 and 28 respectively, and a 22-year-old woman were arrested for obstructing the work of police officers, said Véronique Dubuc, spokesperson for the SPVM. The woman will also be charged with assault. All were identified and released at the scene. They will eventually have to appear in court to answer the charges.
Authorities reported vehicles were set on fire and windows were smashed. Smoke bombs were deployed and metal barriers were then thrown into the street in order to hinder the work of the police, added the SPVM.
The organizers of the protest, Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles, did not respond to an interview request.
Speaking to reporters at the Halifax International Security Forum, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair said the protesters’ actions were unacceptable.”
Couture said the protesters had dispersed by 7 p.m.
Quebec Premier François Legault and Public Security Minister François Bonnardel also issued harsh statements against Friday night’s violence.
“The violent and hateful scenes we witnessed last night in the streets of Montreal, with attacks specifically targeting the Jewish community, are unacceptable. Burning cars and smashing windows is not sending a message, it is causing chaos. Such acts have no place in a peaceful society like Quebec,” Legault said.
“This is not a way to express (opposition). We have to denounce these acts high and low,” Bonnardel wrote.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly wrote on X: “Those who spread hate and antisemitism, use violence, loot and destroy property must be condemned and held accountable. Rioting is not peaceful protest and has no place in Montreal or anywhere in Canada.”