Montreal Pride parade interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters

Pro-Palestinian protesters halted Montreal's Pride parade for about an hour Sunday afternoon. Surrounded by dozens of police officers, the protesters wrapped themselves in an orange banner that read "no justice no peace" and chanted "free Palestine." 

The Pink Bloc, an anti-capitalist 2SLGBTQ+ group, and Faction anti-génocidaire et solidaire (F.A.G.S) were behind the protest. The parade eventually made its way around the protesters and continued its planned route while the protesters marched down the other half of René-Lévesque Boulevard and dispersed at a Metro station. 

It was unclear whether the protesters intended to halt the parade or were prevented from marching by police. 

Other community organizations including Helem, Mubaadarat and Sapphix Social Club said they tried to collaborate with Fierté Montréal organizers and launched a petition pressuring the festival to publicly take a pro-Palestinian stance. It also demanded Fierté Montréal end its TD sponsorship as the bank has several investments in weapon manufacturing companies used by Israel. 

Though Fierté Montréal didn't issue such a statement, the groups nonetheless participated in the march, wearing white and carrying Palestinian flags. They walked with a trans contingent and chanted "Pride is a protest," and "we won't be silenced, stop the violence." 

People on the street raised their fists and chanted "free Palestine" as the contingent went by.

At 2:15 p.m., the parade came to a standstill to observe a minute of silence commemorating all those who died of HIV/AIDS and homophobic attacks. 

The pro-Palestinian marchers used this time to blast the sound of fighter planes through loudspeakers and lie on the ground, some with red paint on their chests, in a die-in to draw attention to Israel's attacks on Gaza. 

At a news conference on Sunday evening, head of Fierté Montréal Simon Gamache said staff negotiated with protesters on-site and the protests remained peaceful. Because Pride festivals around the world have been interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters this year, Gamache said the festival had an action plan.

Montreal police say there were no arrests or injuries.

Protecting queer rights

Drag queens, leather-clad gay men, people in banana costumes waving trans flags, couples draped in rainbows and community organizers flooded downtown Montreal Sunday as the city held its annual Pride parade.

This year's theme was We Are the Rainbow, and thousands of people marched along the two-and-a-half-kilometre route from the corner of René-Lévesque Boulevard and Metcalfe Street to the heart of the Village under the high sun. 

Sexual health non-profits, a gay choir, a queer line dancing group, organizations helping queer refugees, legal aid clinics and activists participated in the parade. 

While the atmosphere was festive, several floats displayed banners reminding attendees that the fight for gay and trans rights is far from over. People held banners saying "protect trans kids" and "when LGBTQ rights go backward, society goes backward." 

For Iris De Lys, it's important to show up at Pride because it's a reminder that the community has "been here forever" and that it's "not going anywhere." 

"No matter how they think, what they want to do with the politics, we'll still be there and they cannot erase us," she said. 

Nina Mora, who attends Pride events almost every year, came to the parade with her girlfriend. She said it's fun to be surrounded by other people in the community. 

"It's pretty alive, like everyone's very present today," she said. 

Protest the night before

But not everyone in Montreal's queer community felt jovial. On Saturday night, the Pink Bloc held a "Rad Pride" protest. 

Demonstrators danced to Abba songs, chanted slogans and held signs saying "no cops at Pride" and "no pride in genocide," criticizing Fierté Montréal corporate sponsors like TD. They accused Fierté Montréal of "pinkwashing" — appealing to 2SLGBTQ+ communities to deflect attention from harmful practices. 

"In accepting dirty money from corporate and capitalist interests, Fierté signs off on the genocidal investments of its partners," the Pink Bloc wrote in an Instagram post.

The protest ended with two arrests and riot cops using tear gas on the crowd. Police also opened an investigation after shop windows on Ste-Catherine Street were smashed.