Noisy antiwar demonstrations by pro-Palestinian and other antiwar groups continued through the day Wednesday in Ottawa as part of an attempt to disrupt an annual military trade show.
World Beyond War Canada (WBW) organized the protest outside the EY Centre, which is hosting the CANSEC conference,
The demonstrations began in the morning outside the EY Centre near Macdonald-Cartier International Airport as protestors attempted to block access to the centre.
The protest at the centre was organized by the group World Beyond War Canada (WBW). The group said in a media release that “the protest was planned to condemn war profiteering in solidarity with Palestinians and people in conflict zones …”
Some demonstrators covered themselves in red paint and lay down on the road in an attempt to block traffic. Media reports say that at least three arrests were made by police.
CANSEC is a yearly conference held in Ottawa to “showcase leading-edge technology, products and services for land-based, naval, aerospace and joint forces military units” according to its website. Hosted by the Canadian Association of Defence and Securities Industries, the trade show ends Thursday.
A federal government employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said protestors yelled at her when she walked in to the trade show. She said protestors called her a “Nazi,” but noted that she didn’t feel unsafe. She also said attendees from her government branch were made aware of the protests before Wednesday morning.
The focus shifted to Parliament Hill later where protesters called for an inquiry into the arms trade in Canada chanting “when people are occupied, resistance is justified” and “starve the war, not the people.”
The demonstrators also marched through downtown including stopping at Ottawa Police Service headquarters on Elgin Street.
Ottawa 4 Palestine and Canadians For Palestine posted on Instagram that seven of their supporters were being held in the headquarters. They encouraged supporters to “flood” the OPS phone lines and email to free those arrested.
At least two protestors have been released with one charged with mischief.
Downtown streets were closed to vehicle traffic as the protesters marched through downtown core and then returned to Parliament Hill again to voice their concern about the Gaza conflict in which some 36,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed. The conflict began in the wake of an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas gunmen that left 1,200 Israeli civilians dead and some 250 taken hostage.
