Thirteen arrested protesting CANSEC arms show, companies profiting from genocide; Community Defence Fund seeking donations
On Wednesday May 28, more than 300 people gathered outside the EY Centre in Ottawa to protest the annual CANSEC arms show.
The protest follows the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) preliminary ruling in January 2024 in which the court found that it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
It also follows the International Criminal Court (ICC) decision in November 2024 that issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli prime minister and defence minister for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
And just three weeks prior to CANSEC, 38 human rights experts, including 18 UN Special Rapporteurs warned: “Continuing to support Israel materially or politically, especially via arms transfers, and the provision of private military and security services risks complicity in genocide and other serious international crimes.”
Among the 280+ exhibitors inside the EY Centre were transnational corporations – including Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, General Dynamics, Elbit Systems, Gastops – profiting from the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Thirteen arrests
Despite the protest being focused on the complicity of these weapons companies in the aiding and abetting of international crimes, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) directed their attention against those who gathered to say no to genocide and repression.
The Palestinian Youth Movement has posted on Instagram: “A total of 13 arrests were made yesterday, including the arrests of a journalist and a medic, and nine of them received baseless charges in a clear effort of intimidation by the OPS.”
Labour 4 Palestine has also posted: “Ottawa chapters of Palestinian Youth Movement, Labour for Palestine, and Independent Jewish Voices have created a joint Community Defence Fund to counter this repression and solidify our movement for justice.”
That post highlights: “TO DONATE: E-transfer to l4pcanada@gmail.com and note ‘community defence’ in the message field.”
More than 270 officers, tear-gas cannons
Reporting on police actions, The Fulcrum notes: “By 8a.m., police divisions including B11, B12, B21, B22, B31, and B32 were deployed and positioned throughout the protests. …By 8:30a.m., paramedic and fire police divisions were also present. …By 9:30a.m., over 270 officers were present before further officers from A1, A2, A3, A4, and A22 were brought in. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) also began to communicate and organize with OPS officers. …Another contingent of officers [arrived] at 9:38a.m. The protest was then encircled and isolated from members standing on the sidewalk while officers wielding tear-gas cannons were positioned outside the convention center.”
‘Detainee pressed onto the concrete’
The Fulcrum further reports: “By 10:14a.m., officers then attempted to shove protesters once more, resulting in eleven arrests, including a reported medic and one independent journalist. Officers pressed one detainee onto the concrete before pulling the individual up and away from the rest of the protest.”
Video still from Radio-Canada.
Journalist arrested
The North Star, an independent, bilingual media outlet, has condemned the arbitrary arrest of its journalist Ramona Murphy.
The North Star notes: “Murphy was covering the demonstration as a volunteer journalist. She was filming police actions when she [was arrested]. …Eyewitness accounts and live footage confirm her role as an observer. …Arresting a journalist, whether a volunteer or not, is a frontal attack on press freedom.”
The Ottawa Citizen reports: “The North Star said police threatened Murphy with mischief and resisting arrest charges.”
She was released eight hours later without charges.
‘Police leave no room for media to document the demonstration’
Journalist Lital Khaikin also reported: “Local and provincial police, outfitted in anti-riot gear, maintained a heavy presence, while private security guarded the outer gates. A surveillance drone hovered above the parking lot outside CANSEC’s gated entrance. Police lines were positioned tightly around protesters, frequently leaving no room for media to move between and document the demonstration.”
“Officers were pushing us by our throats”
The Fulcrum also reports: “A remaining group of protesters, attempting to console an individual who was choked and reportedly had their ribs bruised by an officer, was then encircled by OPS, where officers arrested an individual before leaving. The aforementioned choked individual was then hospitalized for their injuries.”
The article adds: “The Fulcrum then talked with protesters, who requested anonymity, and received several testimonies. One protester involved in the encircled group stated that ‘two officers, an OPS and special constable, choked me along with two other individuals.’ Reports of choking by officers were noted by other protesters who commented that ‘officers were pushing us by our throats in the crowd.’ An additional protester stated that ‘an officer kept playing with the holster of his gun while facing me.’”
We continue to follow this.
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