Peacefully Protesting in a Public Space

"[At] an annual celebration of international cultures [anti-Israel protesters with face coverings] invaded the Israeli space and shot at those attending the booth with water guns filled with red [coloured] water."

"When the volunteers] attempted to protect their space, one was physically assaulted, breaking her glasses."

"[The] guarantees of security for the event from the Culturfest Committee were not fulfilled, and there was no apparent police presence at the time of the incident. The incident ended with the arrest of two of the protesters, based on the assault."

"[The Board of the Congregation] is actively seeking legal advice and remains committed to doing everything we can to restore safety and peace for the Jewish and Israeli community in Saint John and surrounding areas."

Bruce Washburn, president, Shaarei Zedek synagogue

 

"[At approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a] call about protesters making their way to the festival. [The caller described them as] Palestinian demonstrators".

"Calls were also received by attendees of the festival who described the protesters as wearing red bags over their heads, carrying signs, and one person was wearing a military uniform and carrying a gun later determined by police to be a water gun filled with red liquid."

"The protesters were at the Israel booth kneeling, chanting, and facing the crowd."

"[When the police arrived], organizers advised that an incident had taken place at the Israel table [and that a woman had been assaulted]."

"A female along with witnesses alleged that she was assaulted by a masked protester. The police arrested a youth for the assault. As police were placing the youth under arrest, an adult male, unrelated to the assault was arrested for obstruction."

"Police are considering additional charges related to hate crime pending the outcome of the investigation."

Sgt. Shawna Fowler, Saint John Police Department

A tense confrontation erupted at Saint John’s International Culturefest when anti-Israel demonstrators surrounded the Israeli booth, resulting in assault and arrests. (Photo: Still from video on "Ask Saint John" Facebook Group.)

 

Yet another confrontation turned violent when Palestinians and their supporters belligerently harassed volunteers at a booth taking part in the Saint John  International Culturfest. A group called the Saint John Newcomers Centre organized the festival although Mohamed Bagha, its managing director responsible for the festival, refused to comment on the protest. Another spokesman did however, respond with: "The guiding principle of the International Culturfest is to create a welcoming space".

 

Obviously the group that organized the protest felt otherwise. Mohamed Elazab, administrator of a Facebook group, Ask Saint John, posted "Concerning Incident at the Multicultural Fest in Saint John". The 'concerning incident it spoke to was not the uncivilized harassment and threats faced by volunteers at the Israel booth, but the subsequent police presence and the follow-up arrests. According to Elazab, the Saint John police arresting and detaining a minor were thus abusive: the minor was "peacefully protesting in a public space". 

 

With his complaining post he attached videos for 'full transparency'. The peaceful protests showing up on the videos in fact identify them as intimidating, threatening verbal and body language assaults involving adults and children. In one video three women in headscarfs facing the booth chant: "12,3,4 -- Occupation no more! 5,6,7,8 -- Israel is a terrorist state!" Near the women sit young children with bags over their heads, hands behind backs, as two men in army gear and helmets stand over them, faces covered.

 

A man standing nearby says to the demonstrators "Go away" several times. "This is not the time and place for this. This is a place to celebrate differences", he tells them. The man recording the video responds "Freedom of speech!" And "Free Palestine!" Others join the chant shouting "No more murders! No more lies!" A woman, head covered, holds two fake dead babies in front of the booth. The crowd of molesters obviously keep any other festival-goers from approaching the booth out of possible interest. 

 

Another video has shouts such as "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", moving closer to the two volunteers at the booth. One of the Israel booth volunteers extends her phone toward the crowd, then backs up into the booth while the other lifts her hands up to signal stop to someone outside the booth. Another video shows police appearing and arresting someone wearing army gear and a helmet, face covered. A woman in a headscarf complains "He's a minor!"

 

"This is a public space. Freedom of speech!" rings out over and over. Another individual is shown being arrested, wearing a red bag over his head. "You're arresting kids now. We have kids in this. You IDF mother f-----s. Support Israel, you b---ch!" Demonstrators, some in headscarves and kaffiyehs follow the police removing the man who yells "Freedom of speech!" The police are confronted by protesters holding cellphones in their faces. "You guys are terrorists! Stealing ... kidnapping children off the streets!" 

 

Another man shouts out "The Saint John police are arresting a minor without parental consent! The Saint John police are f---king Nazis!" As the video ends a man instructs another to "record everything, take them to the court ... You will win it. You will make them pay money, by the way ... Come here, I will tell you what to do. Ask for the badge number and name and the reason for detention. You need to ask for this. Then you need to take them make a statement in the police. Don't be violent, OK?"

 

Local news media fail to note the incident. And nor does it show up in mainstream media. What does show up is that the very day that this happened, Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture announces that the government is investing $61,000 in the festival. 

 

Still from video; Palestinian protesters harassing volunteers at Israel Booth

"At some point, protesters came very close to us shouting, threatening, and defacing our materials by spraying red ink from water guns onto our books, our flag, and even the volunteers at the booth."

"When one of our female volunteers attempted to stop them from com[ing] at us, she was punched in the face, sustaining a mild concussion and damage to her glasses." 

"[This was] a deeply frightening experience [which makes her] long for the Canada [she] once knew, a place where everyone, no matter their background, could feel safe."

"We came here with dreams of building a better future for our children, believing Canada was a place of peace, acceptance and respect."

Esti Barlevy, Israel booth volunteer 

 

"[The purpose of the government's investment announced today, of $61,000, is to support] events that celebrate Canada's cultural diversity, strengthens communities by bringing people together and providing a platform to share our stories, heritage and traditions, helping build a stronger, more united Canada." 

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture 

People celebrate International Culturefest in Saint John in an undated photo. (Source: Facebook/Culture Fest Saint John)