‘Aggressive mob’ of pro-Palestine demonstrators block Montreal Jews from event at Holocaust Museum

By Eliana Jordan, The Jewish Chronicle, March 5, 2024

A group of “aggressive and physically intimidating” pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked the entrance to the Federation CJA building and Holocaust Museum in Montreal on Monday night to prevent Jewish community members from attending a scheduled event.

According to a statement released by Federation CJA, Montreal’s central Jewish community organisation, the mob surrounded the building in Cotes-des-Neiges where an event titled “Israeli Perspective: Coming to Life” was to take place at 6pm.

The statement, released across Federation CJA’s social media accounts as the demonstration occurred, said that protesters were “attempting to block access to the building and are harassing those trying to enter.”

Featuring Israeli guest speakers Nir Yosef, Ori Itzhaki and Aby Volcovich, the event was part of a Canadian speaking tour designed to “fight against the delegitimisation of Israel” according to a promotional poster shared on social media.

In its statement, Federation CJA said the demonstration was “not about political views or a foreign conflict; it’s an intentional intimidation of Jewish Montrealers. The protests we’ve decried for weeks have escalated into a hate mob targeting Jewish institutions. 

“The SVPM (Service de police de la Ville de Montréal) are on-site. Arrests must be made. This cannot be tolerated on the streets of Montreal. Calling for intifada, terrorism against civilians, is not a peaceful protest. The time for condemnation is over. Jews must be able to gather without the need for protection. We will never go anywhere again. Now we ask our leaders: what more needs to happen for you to grasp the gravity of the situation?”

According to CTV News Montreal, a small group of people representing the Jewish community formed a counter protest while police monitored the event. A representative of Federation CJA said the event proceeded as scheduled as most attendees were able to enter the building before demonstrators blocked access.

Marco Mendicino, MP for Eglinton-Lawrence in Ontario, Canada, commented on the incident in a post on X: “Tonight, the Montreal Jewish Federation Building and Holocaust Museum is being bombarded with hate, intimidation and violence towards the Jewish community. This isn't lawful protest. It's targeted coercion, fueled by antisemitism. It’s against the law. And it must end.”

The SVPM has been contacted for comments.  ###

Read at The Jewish Chronicle.