By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban
Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein recorded a video message last week in the aftermath of numerous verbally and physically violent anti-Israel protests, calling on Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante to support the police in restoring order.
The SPVM has been criticized for the fact the McGill encampment remained up for months, and for not intervening when mobs rampaged at Concordia University during an anti-Israel student strike.
“We are at an inflection point in the history of Montreal,” he said. “The world is watching the streets of Montreal and is horrified by what they see. Is violence and intimidation the new normal, or can Mayor Valérie Plante turn this around and give the police her full support so that they restore order?”
The situation of antisemitism in Montreal has become so bad, writes professor Gad Saad in a recent New York Post opinion article, that he took an unpaid leave from Concordia University to teach at Northwood in Michigan. His article, “How Montreal became the antisemitism capital of North America,” shone a spotlight for the world on what is taking place in the city.
In his video, which includes footage of verbally and physically violent incidents, Brownstein said the protests are a test for the police.
“When the Jacques-Cartier Bridge was shut down, the SQ came in to clear the bridge. When Via Rail trains were delayed by pro-Palestinian protesters, the Longueuil police used their emergency intervention unit to clear the tracks. In Montreal, the tone at the top is wrong! Mayor Plante must start sending a message to change the policing strategy of enforcement.”
Brownstein said the police strategy is to avoid conflict “in the face of demonstrations.This police strategy is a choice — it has failed and it must change. The strategy tolerates certain illegal behaviours such as blocking the street or graffiti on cars and buildings, or occupying university areas. It even tolerates protesters who violate a court injunction requiring them to keep a distance away from Jewish institutions. The Montreal police are allowing for the normalization of antisemitism.” n