As Canada Free Press reported, Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place in many cities and countries throughout the West. These protests occasionally turned violent as did the one held last Friday in Calgary, Alberta. But what happened in Calgary was different.
In the wake of the large pro-Palestinian demonstration that saw a few of the protesters cross the street and attack those Canadians who were counter-protesting in support of Israel, one of the organizers of the Palestinian protest is set to apologize for the violence. The Calgary Police Service on the other hand thinks it's no big deal. One officer allegedly went so far as to blame the victim for daring to wear an Israeli flag across the street from the Palestinians (geez, blame the Jews; like most things cops say, not very original)
Jake Birrell, 20, was wearing an Israeli flag around his neck. He says a demonstrator crossed the street, pulled the flag from his neck and stomped on it. Birrell said he confronted a police officer who said "What do you expect is going to happen when you walk through this group?"
The alleged comment by the officer is similar to a comment made by a Palestinian protester who said the violence was the fault of the pro-Israel demonstrators because they shouldn't have been there. How dare pro-Israel demonstrators exercise the freedom of speech that, albeit limited, exists in Canada?
To blame Birrell for what happened is blaming the victim. This cop's statement is similar to that made a few years ago by a Toronto police officer. Speaking to a group of female university students he told them they could protect themselves from sexual attacks if they dressed more conservatively. The comment resulted in a # Walk being held that not only turned into an annual event but has been repeated in many places throughout the world.
Women have the right to wear clothes that may be somewhat revealing and people have the right to peacefully protest while wearing an Israeli flag. Perhaps a Jew Walk should be held but probably not in Calgary where police have shown an indifference to violence against those who dared to counter-protest the main Palestinian demonstration.
As bad as this one officer's statement was, it was nothing compared to the position the Calgary Police Service took in the media. Det. Steve Adair said it was "a completely mutual altercation" and that is the reason they made no arrests and laid no charges.
Kinda like a hockey game, eh Stevie? What would constitute a simple assault in Canada is not an offence if the parties consent to the actions taken such as what occurs when hockey players drop their gloves and trade punches. But even pro hockey players have been charged and convicted of crimes for using their sticks or skates as weapons during the course of a game. And hockey players don't steal property belonging to another player.
So let's see what the complaints of some of the small group of pro-Israeli protesters are levelling. First there is Jake Birrell, who has already been mentioned. Jeff Willerton was holding an Israeli flag was punched and knocked down. And Samantha Hamilton said she saw her brother and cousin swarmed before she was punched in the eye, thrown to the ground by her hair and kicked and stepped on.
Shane Hamilton, 19, ended up going to the hospital with a concussion, scrapes, bruises and a bite mark on his wrist.
But the cops insist they were there but didn't do anything because it was just a little mutual altercation. Okay, let's get back to hockey for a moment. Despite the debate over hockey violence, one thing can be said about the National Hockey League is that it's sexist; not one of its players is a woman. But it's perfectly acceptable for a man or men to punch a woman and knock her down according to the Calgary cops. No biggie and she really did ask for it by exercising her freedom of speech by showing support for the Jew country.
Now, contrast this with statements made by Saima Jamal, a member of the group Justice for Palestinians and one of the organizers of the demonstration. Jamal said she intended the protest to be peaceful and blames the police for not being there in the first place. More importantly, her group plans to apologize for the violence inflicted by some of her demonstrators. To feel it necessary to apologize, Jamal is acknowledging what the police won't; that some members of the Palestinian protest crossed the street to confront the handful of people who were peacefully protesting in support of Israel. This was not a mutual altercation consisting of pushing and shouting.
Jamal not only seems to have a better understanding of policing than the average Calgary cop but understands how things are supposed to be done in Canada where people should be allowed to express their opinions without being beaten and having the cops blame the victims.
Jamal said her group will have more marshals at future demonstrations and so obviously doesn't buy the Calgary police arguments that, golly gee, the previous demonstrations were peaceful so we couldn't have possibly have anticipated this but we promise to be there in the future.
The main problem is not the possible violence by some of the pro-Palestinian protesters but the state making excuses for doing nothing and blaming the victims for what happened to them. Oh, yes, and the Calgary Police Service says they are investigating. Anyone who feels they were victims have been invited to phone in their complaints. Obviously, the police do not want to be seen in the community investigating Muslims at the request of pro-Israel supporters. That is too politically incorrect for the Calgary Police Service. To Calgary cops the main function of keeping the peace has been replaced by being politically correct.
Jews in Calgary should be nervous. Unlike others, they cannot expect the police to come to their aid.
