Police lay more charges against pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Ottawa

Ottawa police say the reason they arrested several pro-Palestinian protesters over the weekend is because the protests have been obstructing traffic. 

Speaking to CTV News Ottawa on Monday, Ottawa Police Service Supt. François D'Aoust said the reason arrests are being made now is because of ongoing traffic obstructions caused by the protests.

"They've been demonstrating in the streets of Ottawa for well over 13 months now and we've seen weekly demonstrations, twice weekly demonstrations, sometimes three times a week demonstrations that we have to manage and make sure that the public is safe and the demonstrators are safe," D'Aoust said. "We have to balance the right of freedom of expression that's enshrined in our Charter, but we also have limits to that freedom of expression taking over our roadways, obstructing traffic. That is the limit and we have to balance that with the rights of the citizens of Ottawa as well."

Three people were arrested during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Ottawa this weekend.

On Saturday evening, police said two people were arrested during a weekly rally organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement. One man was taken into custody after interfering with the group demonstrating and a woman was arrested for assaulting a police officer following "repeated non-compliance orders from officers."

Demonstrators tell CTV News the man was not part of the pro-Palestinian rally.

In a news release, police said they also arrested a 29-year-old woman on Sunday morning in relation to a demonstration earlier this week that led to four arrests.

Organizers for the Palestinian Youth Movement say the woman was one of their members who was protesting the arrest of a demonstrator during Saturday's rally.

She was charged with two counts of public mischief, obstruction of police, counsel an uncommitted indictable offence of mischief and unlawful assembly. She will appear in court on Monday.

Police say they identified people in the crowd committing offences during the Nov. 18 protest, but said it was not safe to make more arrests.

"After observing criminal behaviour, four individuals were arrested that evening. Police identified others in the crowd committing offences but deemed that it would not be safe to make arrests at the time and risk an escalation," police said.

Weekly protests have taking place in Ottawa against Israel's armed offensive in Gaza and Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, 2023.

On Saturday evening, demonstrators marched from the Human Rights Monument near Ottawa City Hall and moved down Elgin Street, Sussex Drive and Rideau Street. Video posted to social media by the Palestinian Youth Movement shows a confrontation between police and the demonstrators.

"The Ottawa police brutalized and attacked community members today and arrested a protestor dragging them out of the crowd. They shoved people at the back of the protest to force us onto the sidewalk. Every weekend protest has been on the streets. The police chose violence and escalation today," the group said in an Instagram post.

 

 

 

 

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D'Aoust denied accusations of racism and targeting of Palestinian people and supporters, saying it's about safety.

"It's not a racist action or anything like that, or targeted against Palestinians. This is to ensure officer safety, ensure public safety, and ensure that the public is not overburdened with the gridlocked traffic," he said. "We've exercised a great deal of discretion, allowing the demonstrators to take over the roadway, and that is our discretion to do. It's not a right or a freedom of expression to take over a roadway."

Following the arrest on Saturday night, a rally was held in front of the Ottawa Police Service headquarters on Elgin Street to demand the release of one of the demonstrators taken into custody.

A rally protesting the actions of police continued on Sunday.

"We recognize the concerns raised by members of the community regarding these arrests," Ottawa police said.

"The OPS is committed to ensuring community safety and respecting the lawful right to protest. Any charges related to demonstrations are carefully considered with this balance, and we are focused on balancing the need for public safety with fostering trust and understanding."

Police say they are working with the demonstrators and investigations into criminal acts during protests continue.

--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Katelyn Wilson