‘Ceasefire now’ chant students protesting Israeli, Palestine conflict at Oakville Town Hall

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Published May 15, 2024 at 3:55 pm

Ontario, Oakville Palestine, Town Hall, protest, students, walkout
Students from White Oaks Secondary School walked out of class on Wednesday afternoon to show their support from Palestine in a protest held at Oakville Town Hall.

A couple of hundred protesters supporting both sides of the war taking place in Palestine gathered outside Oakville Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon to voice their respective concerns over the conflict that has been going on for over seven months now.

Students at White Oaks Secondary School took part in a planned walkout in support of Palestine in front of Oakville Town Hall, and they were met with over 100 pro-Israel counter-protesters.

Protesters from both sides chanted slogans and were carrying signs.

“Ceasefire now,” chanted supporters of Palestine, focusing on the bombing of Gaza and Palestine by Israeli troops who embarked on military action after Hamas, recognized by Canada as a terrorist organization, launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

“Palestine free. Stop the genocide,” read some of the signs being carried by student supporters, who were joined by others.

Other students voiced their displeasure with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with chants.

A group of adult supporters of Israel and others who were there to voice their displeasure of Hamas and their holding of Israeli hostages sang the Canadian national anthem and were carrying several Canadian flags and some Israeli flags.

“Pressure Hamas, not Israel,” read one sign. “Free Gaza from Hamas,” read another.

One sign read, “Communists are not welcome.”

Members of Halton Police are there monitoring the ongoing protest.

“We are aware of an ongoing protest at Town Hall,” said the Town of Oakville on social media. “Police are monitoring the situation and help ensure the protest is peaceful and follows all laws.”

Revolutionary Communist Party supporters had also set up literature table during White Oaks Student Walkout in support of Palestine. The Town Hall protest was also promoted by Oakville communists.

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was called on to resign after a motion supporting a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and calling for the Town of Oakville council to continue to advocate for a lasting peace solution, a call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire (in Gaza); and release of all hostages, was ruled out of order by Burton.

Over 1,600 people signed a petition calling on him to step down after his comments during a contentious council meeting on Jan. 29.

Burton went on to say, “It also appears some members of the public may see the meeting [tonight] about the item as a platform to use to promote hatred and divisive antisemitic views. Delegations tonight appear to be intending to be problematic too.”

Earlier this year (Feb. 10), a demonstration in support of Palestine brought downtown traffic to a halt when students from White Oaks walked out of class and protested.

One of the protesters, dressed in a black Spider-Man costume with a keffiyeh scarf wrapped around his head, was able to climb a light standard. He used the vantage point to wave the flag of Palestine.

Those who took part in the Oakville protest said the Town was targeted over its recent handling of a motion that called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Burton ruled that the motion was beyond the scope of Oakville council business.

– With files from Steve Pecar and Jeffrey Allen

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