The Ottawa Police Service is investigating comments made at a pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday that have been condemned by federal leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a video posted on social media, hundreds of people are shown attending a pro-Palestinian march, which has been held weekly since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
The video, which has not been independently verified by CTV News, shows a person with a megaphone directing protesters in front of Parliament Hill.
“October 7 is proof that we are almost free,” the person speaking through the megaphone is heard saying.
“Long live October 7, long live the resistance, long live the intifada, long live every form of resistance.”
Ottawa police say they “received complaints about hate speech” during a Gaza Strip-related demonstration Saturday afternoon.
“Our Hate and Bias Crimes Unit has launched an investigation into these allegations and we have received video of the incident. The Service is in close contact with community leaders and institutions and we understand the community’s concerns,” police said. of Ottawa in an email. to CTV News.
“Threats of violence, destruction of property or other illegal conduct are not protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Hate speech, symbols and other incidents motivated by hate are unacceptable. The Ottawa Police Service has zero tolerance for hate-motivated incidents.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, federal ministers and other Canadian politicians took to social media and called statements made at the rally anti-Semitic and hateful.
“There is a difference between peaceful protest and hateful intimidation,” Trudeau said on X.
“It is unconscionable to glorify the anti-Semitic violence and murder perpetrated by Hamas on October 7. This rhetoric has no place in Canada. None.”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller called the comments “hateful” and “absolutely disgraceful.”
“Glorifying the terror and death carried out by Hamas on October 7 is reprehensible and incites hatred. No protest, for any reason, should include this despicable language,” Miller said.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also condemned the comments.
“I condemn these anti-Semitic and pro-genocide chants. We stand together with the Jews of Canada and around the world against these malicious words and deeds,” Poilievre said.
Other politicians, including Ontario People’s Party MP Lisa MacLeod and Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, posted on social media calling on the Prime Minister to take more action to combat the rise in anti-Semitism across the country since the beginning from the war.
The condemnations are some of the sharpest comments made by federal officials regarding comments made at a pro-Palestinian rally to date.
It is unknown who made the comments at the rally, which took place two days before the Jewish holiday of Passover. No arrests or charges have been announced.
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs told reporters at a news conference Monday that police are “actively watching” what happened at the rally. Stubbs declined to comment on whether he believed the comments were anti-Semitic.
“This is an active investigation and for a police chief to give his opinion on an active investigation about whether someone should be guilty or innocent is not appropriate at this time,” he said.
Stubbs said police consider a number of factors before arresting an individual on charges related to hate speech. “It’s very complex,” he said.
“Sometimes we find it very difficult to try to be neutral, to try to be in the middle and to balance people’s right to express themselves.”
Already heightened tensions in the war between Israel and Hamas have risen after Iran launched unprecedented airstrikes against Israel last week. Israel subsequently launched a retaliatory strike against Iran’s air defenses near the central city of Isfahan.
Officials have been condemning a rise in anti-Semitism and offensive statements made since the start of the war. Columbia University canceled in-person classes Monday following days of pro-Palestinian protests on campus, which drew criticism from Jewish students who say the protests veered into anti-Semitism.
US President Joe Biden criticized an “alarming rise” in anti-Semitism in recent days in a written statement on Sunday, calling it “reprehensible and dangerous.”
Ottawa Police are asking anyone with information about Saturday’s incident to contact the Ottawa Police Hate and Bias Crimes Unit at (613) 236-1222, ext. 5015.