4 others charged after newest downtown Calgary demonstration linked to Israel-Hamas struggle
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A person who repeatedly used a contentious chant at a pro-Palestinian rally says he by no means ought to have been charged by Calgary police as a result of the phrase isn’t offensive.
Wesam Cooley, 32, was charged following a protest within the metropolis’s downtown earlier this month with inflicting a disturbance, and a hate motivation had been utilized to that offence.
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His costs had been stayed Friday by Alberta’s Crown prosecution service.
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“I hoped they’d be dropped. They by no means ought to have been laid within the first place,” Cooley, who additionally goes by Wesam Khaled, informed reporters Sunday earlier than one other pro-Palestinian rally was held in Calgary.
“There’s completely nothing offensive in regards to the chant ’from the river to the ocean.’ It’s a name for freedom for the folks of Palestine.”
Many Palestinian activists say the mantra is a name for peace and equality after 75 years of Israeli statehood, however Jewish folks hear a transparent demand for Israel’s destruction.
It has develop into a battle cry for pro-Palestinian activists because the lethal assaults by Hamas throughout southern Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s later bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
When Cooley was charged, Calgary police mentioned that two teams of protesters gathered at Metropolis Corridor on Nov. 5 to point out assist for Palestine and Israel amid the battle within the Center East. Officers met with every group to handle the security of contributors and talk about a few of the language and signage from previous protests.
Officers alleged he took to the stage, acknowledged the dialog then repeatedly used an “antisemitic phrase” whereas encouraging the gang to observe alongside.
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The phrase “from the river to the ocean, Palestine can be free” was once more chanted by the a whole bunch gathered at Sunday’s rally at Calgary Metropolis Corridor, which befell throughout the road from a rally for Israel.
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Contentious chant ‘not an harmless assertion’
Some Jewish folks on the pro-Israel rally mentioned they’re deeply offended by the phrase.
“It’s very clear what they’re saying,” mentioned Elliott Steinberg, who described himself as a loyal member of the Jewish group. “They’re speaking in regards to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean which, should you take a look at a map, encompasses all of Israel.
“So, what they’re saying is that once they need to free Palestine, they need to clear it of all Jewish folks. That’s genocide. It’s not an harmless assertion.”
Leigh-Anne Palter, who’s additionally Jewish, mentioned there’s no nuance to the phrase.
“Your complete area is Arab. There’s a tiny little portion of the world that belongs to Jews,” she mentioned. “It means what they imply. Hamas exists to extinguish the Jewish folks. That’s their sole objective.
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“My coronary heart aches for the entire harmless civilians on either side of the battle, however let’s be clear: Hamas is endangering their very own folks. It’s a deliberate motion meant to incite violence and uncertainty in your complete area and the world over.”
She mentioned her granddaughter is at a Jewish daycare in Edmonton and he or she hasn’t been outdoors in 5 weeks.
“It’s a really scary time for everybody, and it’s a tragic time that these are my neighbours, that these are my potential colleagues and there’s a lot hate.”
Khaled mentioned Sunday he doesn’t see it that approach.
“We now have members of the Jewish group in any respect of our marches. All around the globe Jewish organizations have been main demonstrations and solidarity with Palestine, together with this chant,” he mentioned.
“Jewish folks on this nation shouldn’t really feel threatened by this chant. We’re against all types of racism, together with antisemitism.”
Others on the pro-Palestinian rally mentioned they had been there to protest the deaths of harmless ladies and kids in Gaza.
In Halifax, greater than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at a downtown lodge Sunday because the annual Halifax Worldwide Safety Discussion board got here to an finish.
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Attendees of the discussion board, that included a panel with a former Israeli prime minister, had been greeted by chants calling for a direct ceasefire as they left the convention venue. Protesters held indicators that learn “cease the genocide and the occupation” and “peace for Gaza” and “ceasefire now.”
Comparable indicators had been on the pro-Palestinian rally in Calgary, whereas the pro-Israel rally had indicators that mentioned “free Gaza from Hamas” and “convey them dwelling now.”
4 charged at newest Calgary demonstration
Calgary police mentioned in a press release later Sunday that there have been about 2,000 folks on the two rallies and most acted in a lawful, peaceable and respectful method.
Police added, nonetheless, that about 100 folks left the principle protest group and began marching, which blocked site visitors. 5 of these folks had been arrested and three had been charged with assaulting a peace officer. A fourth individual was charged with obstructing a peace officer. The fifth individual was launched with out costs, police mentioned.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed on Nov. 19, 2023.
— With information from Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax and The Related Press
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