"After 126 weeks and 10,000 hours of support, Vic PD is asking that protesters peacefully conclude the marching portion of their weekly Palestine demonstrations."

"We strongly encourage organizers and participants to remain on the Legislature lawn, where the environment is safer and more controlled."

"This decision is not about the cause itself [the force remains committed to supporting the right to peaceful protest]."

"This is about balance and about our responsibility to ensure that we can continue to meet all public safety needs across Victoria and Esquimalt."

Victoria Police Department, Victoria, British Columbia

 

"We will not stop marching."

"We will not stop until the Canadian state completely ends its complicity in apartheid, war crimes, and genocide in occupied Palestine."

Coast Salish to Palestine 

Victoria police say they will no longer provide traffic control or other resources for weekly pro-Palestine rallies in the city's downtown. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)

 

British Columbia's capital city Victoria police announced their intention to stop escorting anti-Israel marches after over two years  and the cost of millions.Traffic control and 'related police resources' would no longer be provided to those who have been routinely illegally blockading roads every Saturday in the city's core. "Unsustainable strain" on officers led to the Victoria Police coming to the conclusion to put an end to their attendance on the marches. 

 

The march organizers were unmoved; they had never asked for such escorts to begin with, they responded with scorn. As for the city of Victoria itself in their opinion is 'unceded Lekwungen and WSANEC territories', lacking the authority to tell them what they may and may not do. Subject to frequent anti-Israel demonstrations hard on the heels of the October 7, 2023 massacre in southern Israel by Palestinian terrorists led by Hamas from Gaza, the weekly Saturday march through the tourist core always took place with Victoria Police escorts.

 

Victoria residents became familiar with Victoria Police routinely alerting them several days in advance of  upcoming anti-Israel demonstrations. "Traffic disruptions are expected due to a planned demonstration this Saturday at the front of the BC Legislature", a typical police alert would warn, with the population alerted they should expect about "two hours" road closures, the costs of which have added into millions for police resources.

 

At one rally, a speaker praised violent resistance against Israeli forces: "I feel very proud when I see young warriors in Gaza ... running up to a tank and delivering demolition charges". But should the IDF shoot any of these 'young warriors' prepared to kill Israeli soldiers, harsh condemnation of 'genocide' erupts at all the 'pro-Palestinian (read Hamas') marches throughout Canadian cities and at blockaded university campuses.

 

At one November march, a cordon was maintained by police around demonstrators blocking the city's main thoroughfare. While waiting cars were held back, a speaker in the middle of the blocked road pointed out that people passing by wearing Remembrance Day poppies memorializing the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War, a conflict that helped end the Holocaust which enabled European Jewish survivors to become 'victimizers' of 'Palestinians' were complicit; Arabs claiming to be the rightful indigenous people of Judean ancestral geography.

 

Victoria police, while issuing their statement, praised the "passion and commitment" of the demonstrators. "This decision is not a judgment on the merits of their cause, but a necessary step to ensure sustainable policing and protect the long-term health of our officers", explained VicPD Chief Constable Fiona Wilson. Under the Motor Vehicle Act it is illegal to block any roadway in Canada. In the instance of the pro-Palestine/anti-Israel marches it is public intimidation. 

 

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the legislature in 2021. Photo: Colin Smith / Capital Daily