Headline: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Make Bold Statement During Montreal’s Vibrant Pride Parade
In a surprising turn of events, Montreal’s annual Pride parade was temporarily halted on Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters made their voices heard, wrapped in an orange banner proclaiming “no justice no peace.” The protesters, surrounded by a heavy police presence, passionately chanted “free Palestine,” causing a pause in the parade’s flow for about an hour.
Behind the protest were groups such as the Pink Bloc, an anti-capitalist 2SLGBTQ+ organization, and Faction anti-génocidaire et solidaire (F.A.G.S). As the parade eventually maneuvered its way around the protesters and continued its route, the demonstrators marched down René-Lévesque Boulevard, dispersing at a nearby Metro station.
While the intentions of the protesters regarding the parade halt remain unclear, community organizations like Helem, Mubaadarat, and Sapphix expressed solidarity with the cause, pressuring Fierté Montréal organizers to take a pro-Palestinian stance. The groups demanded the festival to sever ties with its sponsor, TD, citing the bank’s investments in weapon manufacturing companies used by Israel.
Despite Fierté Montréal’s silence on the matter, the pro-Palestinian groups, donned in white and waving Palestinian flags, joined the parade, marching alongside a trans contingent and passionately chanting slogans like “Pride is a protest” and “we won’t be silenced, stop the violence.” Onlookers on the street raised their fists in support, echoing the calls for a free Palestine.
As the parade paused to honor those who have died from HIV/AIDS and homophobic violence, the pro-Palestinian marchers used the moment to draw attention to Israel’s attacks on Gaza by symbolically lying on the ground with red paint on their chests and playing sounds of fighter planes through loudspeakers.
At a later news conference, Fierté Montréal assured that negotiations with the protesters were peaceful and there were no arrests or injuries reported by Montreal police during the demonstration.
While the parade celebrated the theme of “We Are the Rainbow,” showcasing a vibrant mix of drag queens, various community organizations, and LGBTQ activists, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators’ bold statement left a lasting impact on the event, underscoring the diverse voices within the LGBTQ+ community.
In a surprising turn of events, Montreal’s annual Pride parade was temporarily halted on Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters made their voices heard, wrapped in an orange banner proclaiming “no justice no peace.” The protesters, surrounded by a heavy police presence, passionately chanted “free Palestine,” causing a pause in the parade’s flow for about an hour.
Behind the protest were groups such as the Pink Bloc, an anti-capitalist 2SLGBTQ+ organization, and Faction anti-génocidaire et solidaire (F.A.G.S). As the parade eventually maneuvered its way around the protesters and continued its route, the demonstrators marched down René-Lévesque Boulevard, dispersing at a nearby Metro station.
While the intentions of the protesters regarding the parade halt remain unclear, community organizations like Helem, Mubaadarat, and Sapphix expressed solidarity with the cause, pressuring Fierté Montréal organizers to take a pro-Palestinian stance. The groups demanded the festival to sever ties with its sponsor, TD, citing the bank’s investments in weapon manufacturing companies used by Israel.
Despite Fierté Montréal’s silence on the matter, the pro-Palestinian groups, donned in white and waving Palestinian flags, joined the parade, marching alongside a trans contingent and passionately chanting slogans like “Pride is a protest” and “we won’t be silenced, stop the violence.” Onlookers on the street raised their fists in support, echoing the calls for a free Palestine.
As the parade paused to honor those who have died from HIV/AIDS and homophobic violence, the pro-Palestinian marchers used the moment to draw attention to Israel’s attacks on Gaza by symbolically lying on the ground with red paint on their chests and playing sounds of fighter planes through loudspeakers.
At a later news conference, Fierté Montréal assured that negotiations with the protesters were peaceful and there were no arrests or injuries reported by Montreal police during the demonstration.
While the parade celebrated the theme of “We Are the Rainbow,” showcasing a vibrant mix of drag queens, various community organizations, and LGBTQ activists, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators’ bold statement left a lasting impact on the event, underscoring the diverse voices within the LGBTQ+ community.
