Joel Goldenberg – The Suburban LJI Reporter
The SPVM’s hate crimes unit is investigating a Nov. 21 incident in which a 21-year-old woman was seen damaging and trying to remove a City of Côte St. Luc-approved poster of hostages being held by the terrorist group Hamas since Oct. 7.
SPVM spokesperson Veronique Dubuc told The Suburban that the suspect was not arrested, but an SPVM officer did approach the individual and established her identity. Dubuc added that no names are revealed to the media until an individual appears in court.
Mike Bensimon posted a picture of the alleged offender on the CSL Ideas Facebook page, in which the woman appears to be mocking those taking her picture. She also appears to have a boxcutter in her hand.Bensimon posted that the incident “happened in CSL today. [Mayor] Mitchell Brownstein, are you going to do something about this? The city needs to get on this. It’s unacceptable!!! The Hampstead Mayor [announced] last week that he would fine people like those $1000.”
The city responded that it is “aware of an incident on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, in which a person removed part of a sign installed on municipal property that featured dozens of photos of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas. “The Montreal Police Department (SPVM) is investigating the incident and—through the quick reactions of witnesses who communicated with the SPVM—knows the identity of the person who committed the act. The SPVM will determine what charges to file.” At least one of these posters is at the corner of Cavendish Blvd. and Kildare Road.
During the Nov. 13 council meeting, Brownstein told residents there were no plans to follow Hampstead’s lead in fining those who remove posters $1,000, as putting up posters on public property without a permit is illegal in the first place. But in the case of the Nov. 21 incident, Councillor Dida Berku posted on the CSL Ideas page, “this sign is different. This is a city sign.
“The city has recourse and police can and did intervene. On the other hand, posters on public poles are by their very nature not allowed in cities in general, not in CSL or Hampstead. (Except during elections) They are tolerated. Imposing fines for removal of hostage posters as opposed to garage sale posters is by its very nature very complex.”
Hampstead’s bylaw specifies that the fine applies to posters, not specifically hostage posters, approved by the town.