Palestinian supporters stage dramatic protest in downtown Calgary
Protesters wearing what looked like bloodied clothes rallied near downtown C-Train platform
Pro-Palestinian supporters pretended to be victims of the conflict in Gaza at a small protest held near a downtown C-Train platform Wednesday night.
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The protesters were wearing what looked like bloodied clothes and holding signs that say, "Nothing to see here. Just another dead Palestinian."
The group — which is much smaller than other downtown rallies held in recent weeks — then gathered at City Hall to protest the shelling of a UN school filled with refugees in Gaza and other violence seen in the area.
There have been a number of protests in Calgary since the conflict started.
Violence broke out at a July 18 pro-Palestinian rally when Israel supporters showed up to stage a protest of their own. The Gaza rally organizers later apologized for the violence.
Calgary police Insp. Cliff O'Brien says there are about 600 protests every year in the city and very few are violent, but police have learned to be prepared.
"We will have sometimes smaller groups of people that are intent on causing trouble and they really need that anonymity, so what we want to do is make sure that we have them on video," he said.
Then, on July 23, a man was arrested at an Israel solidarity rally for possession of a weapon. The 26-year-old is now facing a number of weapons charges.
The "Calgary for Israel Rally" was held on July 31, and featured several speakers like conservative personality and author Ezra Levant.
The Jewish Defence League of Canada says it has been asked to set up shop in the city, which it hopes to have up and running this month.
