Pro-Israel activist arrested in Winnipeg prior to attempted counter protest Sunday
CBC News | Posted: December 11, 2023 4:32 AM | Last Updated: December 11, 2023
Ron East, Israeli Canadian Council founder, said he was charged with obstructing a police officer
A pro-Israel activist says he was arrested Sunday at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights prior to an attempted counter protest of a pro-Palestinian rally.
Ron East, founder of the Israeli Canadian Council, said a group of pro-Israel supporters attempted to stage a counter-protest at the museum, but he was arrested before that rally began. East felt the protest broke an agreement between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups and police to hold rallies on separate days.
"It is what it is, but I'm here," East said Sunday afternoon during a pro-Israel protest in front of the CBC Manitoba building later Sunday afternoon. "I got arrested, got sent into the big house, got finger-printed, had my pictures taken, got thrown into a cell, the whole nine yards."
East said he was charged with obstructing a police officer. He said he parked in an area that said "no parking," while trying to unload a vehicle Sunday morning at the museum.
He also said the officer asked the group to move two vehicles, but East told them that they'd move one of the cars first and the other after because he didn't want their stuff to be left unattended.
"He didn't like that, he demanded my driver's license. I asked 'What do you need my driver's licence for, what am I being charged with,'" he said.
East said he continued to ask why he needed to provide his driver's license, and the officer arrested him.
"He didn't like that, he demanded my driver's license. I asked 'What do you need my driver's licence for, what am I being charged with,'" he said.
East said he continued to ask why he needed to provide his driver's license, and the officer arrested him.
East says the incident soured his relationship with police in the city.
Police asked protesters from both sides to avoid squaring off in counter-protests, which they said escalated tensions and ate up a lot of their resources back in October. Organizers were also encouraged to limit protests to a specified location.
Supt. Dave Dalal of the Winnipeg Police Service's special events unit told the city's police board Friday no counter protests have been held since.
CBC News has reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service to ask about the arrest, but hasn't been given any information.
Rally calls for recognition at human rights museum
About one hundred people marked the 75th annual Human Rights Day with a pro-Palestinian rally at the museum Sunday morning. It was the second day in a row of pro-Palestinian rallies, as supporters also gathered outside Winnipeg City Hall Saturday.
Sunday's pro-Palestinian rally started outside the museum and then participants chanted "ceasefire now" as they walked through the main entrance. Some speeches were also made inside the building and members of the protest then laid on the floor to represent those who have been killed during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
"The role in today's rally is to let the human rights museum know that they need to have something in the museum that recognizes Palestine," said Ramsey Zeid, the president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba.
Zeid said he and other members of the protest chose to make their voices heard at the museum because they want to see more representation in the space.
The weekend protests came on the heels of Winnipeg police asking protesters from both sides to stay in one location.
Dalal said Friday there were 37 public events between Oct. 9 and Dec. 6 in Winnipeg in protest of the Israel-Hamas war, of which 25 required police supervision or escort.
That has resulted in 2,288 hours of overtime for police officers, excluding the diversion of on-duty resources, said Dalal. The overtime price tag is $136,000 and climbing.
Zeid said he can appreciate that police want to keep the costs down, but "at the same time it is our Constitutional right to have rallies and to protest."
Pro-Israel rally calls for changes in media language
At a rally later in the day, East and pro-Israel supporters gathered outside the CBC Manitoba building in downtown Winnipeg.
"We came here to send a message to all media including CBC, CTV, everybody else that we don't find that the language being used during news broadcasts is efficient and is proper," he said.
He said media should call Hamas terrorists and wanted to see that language reflect by CBC and other outlets.
CBC uses the word terrorist with attribution to governments, officials, authorities, experts and politicians.
East told CBC News he's also contacted the broadcaster about this issue. He also said the group will continue to protest on Sundays.
He said media should call Hamas terrorists and wanted to see that language reflect by CBC and other outlets.
CBC uses the word terrorist with attribution to governments, officials, authorities, experts and politicians.
East told CBC News he's also contacted the broadcaster about this issue. He also said the group will continue to protest on Sundays.
Protestors also called for the release of hostages during the gathering.
Roman Lisak said it's not his call to decide how the release of hostages will be gone about and that it's hard to say if he would support a ceasefire. However, he said he hopes those who are being held hostage know people in Winnipeg are supporting them.
"Even in winter-time we come here because we really care [about] what happens," he said.