demonstrations over remembrance day song in arabic fizzle
mpp lisa macleod said protesters were planning a "rage rally" at sir robert borden, but it never materialized
2 minute read
half a dozen pro- palestinian activists showed up in front of local mpp lisa macleod's office on monday.
julie oliver
/
postmedia
there were more police cars than demonstrators monday after reports circulated that protests were expected at sir robert borden high school and mpp lisa macleod’s constituency office only a few blocks away. the demonstration at the high school was cancelled and another gathering at macleod’s office attracted only a handful of participants.
at issue: haza salam, an arabic-language song played at a remembrance day assembly at sir robert borden. after controversy over the song erupted, the school’s principal, aaron hobbs, sent a message to families, saying the song was intended to foster a message of peace and remembrance, and that the school regretted that the choice had inadvertently “caused offence and discomfort to some students.”
on x (formerly twitter), macleod said she didn’t believe protests should occur at schools where there are minors.
“sadly, pro hamas protesters don’t agree and are organizing a rage rally” at sir robert borden, said macleod’s message on x on saturday. “this puts all students, in particular jewish students, in harms way. as the local mpp i demand condemnation for governments & an assurance for public safety by ocdsb. enough is enough.”
macleod later posted that law enforcement recommended she close her office in the afternoon “to protect my constituency staff.”
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a handful of protesters showed up to sir robert borden high school monday intending to protest against an arabic song being played on remembrance day until learning that a planned protest had been cancelled.
julie oliver
/
postmedia
two demonstrators carrying canadian flags left sir robert borden high school around 2 p.m. monday after speaking with police. they said the demonstration had been cancelled.
clayton goodwin, one of a half-dozen pro-palestinian demonstrators standing near greenbank road in front of macleod’s office with palestinian and lebanese flags, took issue with macleod’s reference to a “rage rally.” the group had never planned to gather at the high school and their intentions were peaceful, he said.
last month, ottawa city council asked city staff to examine whether a so-called “bubble bylaw” is needed in ottawa to protect schools, places of worship and other sensitive community sites from protests. council voted 23-3 in favour of the feasibility study, to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.
an ottawa-carleton district school board memo dated oct. 11 said demonstrations are not permitted in a school or on school property. “student walk-outs or demonstrations should take place off school property in a manner that prioritizes safety for all.”
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