Canada's Afghanistan War: Don't extend it. End it!
About 200 Winnipeggers rallied outside the Canadian Grain Commission building at Water Avenue and Main Street today to demand an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The action in Winnipeg was part of a world wide protest aimed at persuading the Israeli government to stop killing Palestinians.
The protest was organized by Peace Alliance Winnipeg and the Winnipeg chapters of Canadian Muslims for Peace and the Canada Palestine Support Network. Freezing temperatures and a brisk north wind could not diminish the commmitment of the demonstrators. Chanting “free, free Palestine” and “no justice, no peace” the marchers had lots of support from passersby, judging from the horns from passing motorists.
The rally was peaceful, despite an incident in which a young protestor was punched by a man who stopped his car to taunt the marchers. Police intervened, but no arrests were made.
Rally organizers said that they will protest at the same location every Saturday at 2:00 p.m. until further notice.
I can’t believe someone punched that boy, that’s ridiculous :/
The truth is no one punched anyone. the gentelman that left the car was pelted with ice. If anyone was aggressive it was the group of protesters who chased the car and caused it to stop.
Stop altering the truth as you do with Gaza.
the truth in gaza?
60 years of colonization, occupation and ethnic cleansing? Resistance by hamas using homemade rockets against an advanced military power? I think it’s pretty clear, no truth needs to be altered. People need to do their own research and not gobble up what the mass media spits out.
anonymous anonymous :
I love that. You’re obviously pro-Israeli on the matter. Can you tell us that you were at the rally and saw the whole incident? My interview the child that WAS hit and the people around him at the time seems to say otherwise.
It’s amazing that anyone in North America is still buying the party-line that Israel hasn’t gone rogue and hasn’t become the terrorist.
As a sidebar: I also find it amusing how none of the Pro-Israel people will ever use their real name in any of these types of forums.
I stand behind what I say and do and my name is Jason Ross!!!!
Truth is there was never a country called Palestine nor were there people called Palestinians. Truth is that Gaza was a part of Egypt. Truth is that my father (Jewish) is also a Palestinian as he was born pre 1948 in Jerusalem. Truth is that my family lived for over 100 in Hebron and was ran out of the city during the riots against the Jewish community there. Truth is that Hamas murdered 35 Fatah members (shot in head) and maimed 75 others at the start of the conflict.
You want truth … the problem is you can’t hadle the truth.
Hamas – terrorist organization.
Home made rockets kill. 10,000 shot at Israel over last couple of years.
Truth is that Israel left Gaza over a year ago … where is the occupation? Why doesn’t Egypt open it’s border with Gaza??? Because they don’t like Hamas either.
Deal with truth will you.
Dear Jason,
I was a witness to what happened and I stand by my words that no child was hit. If you were not present don’t be so quick to make assumptions. If a child was hit the police that were present would have made arrests. No arrests were made nore was there a complaint made.
I am pro truth and pro democracy and anti terrorists. No one who supports Israel is anti Palestinian. Yet again I stand by my words that there was NEVER such a country as Palestine and if you really want to argue the point my father, grandmother, grandfather (I can go on) are equally Palestinians.
Those who support Hamas support terrorism … it is that simple.
Start by condeming Hamas and terrorism as a starting point. I believe the majority of “Palestinians” want to live in peace and NOT under control of terrorist groups such as Hamas.
Please try and argue the fact that Hamas shot (in the head) 35 Fatah members and maimed 75 others at the start of the conflict.
Please try and argue the fact that they use their own people (civilians) as human shields.
Please try to argue the fact that throughout the conflicy Israel has continued to supply humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Please try to argue the fact that Hamas is not a terrorist group.
Please try and argue the point that while the conflict rages in Gaza the West Bank remain relatively calm.
Good Luck.
PS – I think you would be better served protesting against terrorism them against Israel. There would be no conflict without terrorism.
Dear AA,
If we have conflicting reports about an altercation at a rally in Winnipeg, imagine how much more complex it is to sort out the issues in Israel and Palestine.
It is good that you visit this site to express your point of view. I invite you to look more deeply into this conflict from the Palestinian point of view.
Israeli peace activist Jeff Halpner will be in town Jan. 24-26. Go to one of his events and see what he has to say.
Even before that, get some popcorn and view Occupation 101 – Voices of the Silenced Majority to hear from Israeli peace activists and ordinary Palestinians. This film is especially useful in that it demonstrates that the conflict in Gaza cannot be reduced to blaming whoever fired the last rocket.
I was one of the young girls at the protest who saw the Pro-Israel guy in the car giving us the middle finger, and say F-#k you to us girls standing by the bus shelter, one of the girls picked up a snowbal and chased the car he was in, and threw it at his car, he stopped the car and jumped out. A man from the protest saw, and came running to protect the girl, his 2 friends jumped out of the car, The man protesting said “what do you want?” to them. A kid came running in to help the man. A bunch of us witnessed the Pro-Israel guy hit the kid. Many people came running, and the Pro-Israel guy yelled “This is what I wanted” The police came, and the COWARD ran away and drove off.
IT was obvious by him saying “this is what I wanted”, that he was just there, trying to provoke the protesters, especially swearing at us young girls and giving us the middle finger
I’m glad I caught the lies on here by anonymous anonymous, and was able to clarify what happened in front of me that day.
It just proves that some of these Israel supporters have a PHD in LIES and DECEPTION!
We were at the rally in question and my little girl who is only 13 was cold so I allowed her to go to the bus shack while I listened to the speakers. Since we knew most of the people there and everything was completely peaceful, I did not go with her. When I heard screaming I called out to the speaker to tell us what was happening. When she said a “provocation” I went to get my child. She was in the shack, frightened and came with me immediatly.
I looked only for my girl, but later she told me her perspective. The driver stopped and deliberately made a rude gesture at the women including my girl, and yelled some obscenities. When he was told to go away, he got out and became a threat. People came forward and there was some physical stuff started by the driver. My daughter did not see clearly a punch but thought a boy was hurt by a shove or a hit. She was worried because it looked like some creeps wanted to hurt women and children. To me, no matter what your politics this is Winnipeg and we don’t like creeps who hurt women and children. I ‘ll stick my neck out and say most of us don’t like people hurt for any reason anywhere. We’re against the strong that beat up on the weak. Anyone that intellectualizes about this and cannot get the fact that the Palestinians are suffering and their suffering should be alleviated right now must be devoid of compassion. And not that I think it’s relevant, but because others seem to want to bring up their Jewish relataives as if it gives them permission to hate and hurt, I am Aboriginal but my children are half Jewish and have many relatives in Israel, Canada and the USA, almost all of whom are Zionist and who have various life experiences, opinions and needs. This does not however negate the truth about the Palestinian people and their needs this day. Here’s to truth and compassion and peace and fresh water in a free historic homeland for Palestinians.
I was the man in that car that yelled some unpleasant statements to the people in that rally. I swear that i haven’t touch anybody mature or child but i am the one who got hurt from piece of ice witch made a bruise from my shoulder to my elbow. I wish I could attach a picture as a proof.