Canada's Trudeau Condemns 'Violence' at Anti-NATO, Pro-Palestine Protests in Montreal

Facts

• On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again condemned protests at pro-Palestine, anti-NATO protests in Montreal over the weekend.^[1][2]
• Amid heightened tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters in the city, the protests on Friday came following a week that included a number of anti-Israel boycotts and reports of an instance at the University of Concordia in which a masked demonstrator was filmed appearing to direct Nazi terminology at pro-Israel counter-protesters.^[1][3]
• The protests also came in a week that saw the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Canada's hosting of the NATO parliamentary assembly. Police made three arrests after cars were set on fire and shop windows were shattered, with protesters accused of throwing smoke bombs and metal objects.^[1][4]
• "In democracy, we will always defend freedom of expression, of protesting, of expressing our opposition on certain positions, but there is never place for violence, for hate or intimidation," Trudeau said Monday. Earlier, he described events as "appalling," and added: "Acts of antisemitism, intimidation and violence must be condemned wherever we see them."^[5]
• While Friday's riots did include a burning effigy of Netanyahu, Montreal Police said Monday there were no reports of antisemitic incidents as alluded to by Trudeau. He was later criticized after he was pictured at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto while the riots in Montreal were ongoing.^[5][6]
• On Monday, Montreal Police also walked back their allegation that protestors were responsible for torching vehicles. A spokesperson said surveillance footage from the cars was being studied and investigations are ongoing. At a press conference, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said she believed protests were taken over by "agitators" and "professional vandals."^[7][8]

Sources: ^[1]The Times of Israel, ^[2]Global News, ^[3]Montreal Gazette, ^[4]Barron's, ^[5]CBC, ^[6]Daily Mail, ^[7]The Montreal Gazette and ^[8]Montreal.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by CBC. It's important to maintain law and order. Protesters cannot be allowed to run amok, setting cars on fire, smashing windows, and throwing rocks at the police. There is no place for antisemitism, intimidation, or violence in Canadian society. Trudeau has rightfully condemned these appalling actions.
• Right narrative, as provided by New York Post. While lawless protestors were running roughshod around Montreal, smashing up businesses and burning cars, Trudeau was shaking his tail-feather at a Taylor Swift concert. It tells you everything you need to know about Canada's Liberal government.