Pro-Palestinian supporters interrupted a film screening organized by the Federation CJA at Cavendish Mall on Monday night.
Montreal police (SPVM) was called to intervene after several pro-Palestinian supporters entered the mall, located in Côte Saint-Luc, during a showing of October 8.
“The fact that this movie shows how antisemitism exploded on campus, in our streets, and elsewhere after the Oct. 7 massacre is proof that these people have no interest in the well-being of Jews and the community,” notes a joint statement from the Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) sent to CTV News.
Montreal police notes that there was no violence, arrests or reported injuries.
All the same, some film-goers say the situation left them feeling unsafe.
“I was very shaken by this protest and the screams calling for death to Israel, considering the movie showing was privately organized for community members who simply wanted to watch a film,” said Cindy Garayt, who attended the 7 p.m. screening.
She points out that there was “a high number” of elderly people in the mall at the time, as there were showings at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Movie-goer Brahm Canzer tells CTV News he confronted some of the protesters who he says were holding up a large banner and shouting insults as people exited the theatre.
“There was little, if any, effort to control the situation by mall security or the police when they showed up,” he said.
Following the incident, Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein took to social media to express his disappointment that there were no arrests.
“Intimidation was being used to hinder the peaceful enjoyment of the cinema space and the mall common areas,” he claimed. “Hate speech, face covering while occupying a space illegally are all sufficient cause to arrest.”
The mayor notes that he had called police to “ask for the removal of the protesters.”
“I then spoke with the mall owners who asked that I continue to pursue the matter,” he said, noting he was forced to leave a council meeting to follow the situation closely.
“First, the police moved the protesters to another part of the mall,” he said. “Then, after continued pressure, they left.”
Montreal police states that it remained onsite to make sure that things remained peaceful, and everything was over by 10 p.m.
