Toula Drimonis: Trudeau had a right to attend Taylor Swift concert with daughter

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I have been watching with increasing unease as the pro-Palestinian, anti-NATO protest that took place in Montreal on Friday appears to have been greatly exaggerated for political expediency. “Montreal burns, Trudeau dances,” wrote one analyst, echoing federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s statement on X, which laid the blame squarely on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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I’m sorry, but are we talking about the same protest here? The one that resulted in some smashed windows and ended at 7 p.m.? The one with three arrests, quickly shut down by Montreal police before the Taylor Swift concert even started? Not only did Montreal not burn to the ground, but most Montrealers attending the Santa Claus Parade the following day probably saw few — if any — signs of visible destruction. The broken windows at the Palais des congrès were quickly boarded up and it was back to business as usual.

Of course, no one wants to see vandalism and cars burned. But why are some people acting like they didn’t live through the 2012 student protests that routinely degenerated into violence — often police violence against students? Hell, we riot and destroy cop cars when our hockey team wins or makes the playoffs. The 1993 Stanley Cup riot caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages, 47 police cars were vandalized or destroyed, and more than 100 people were arrested. We rioted when the Metallica and Guns N’ Roses show at the Olympic Stadium in 1992 was cut short. To put it mildly, this is not a city unfamiliar with riots.

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Montreal police say no antisemitic acts had been reported in connection with Friday’s protest. One person has been identified as engaging in antisemitic acts at a different protest outside Concordia University on Thursday. Anyone making the Nazi salute and uttering hate speech such as “the final solution is coming” should have to deal with unequivocal, immediate consequences. And they have: This individual lost their Second Cup franchise licence at the Jewish General Hospital.

Politicians were, of course, quick to condemn the violence and destruction observed at these protests, but we need to be careful with the facts. Hyperbolic social media posts and opinion pieces, many of which I suspect have the dual goal of discrediting politicians in power and pro-Palestinian protesters, run the risk of inciting additional fear among the Jewish community and anti-Arab hate among Canadians. I don’t see how this helps us as a community.

The populist takes making an easy target of Trudeau for attending Friday’s Taylor Swift concert in Toronto are also unfair. Like him or dislike him, the man has a right to a life. He’s a dad who was there with his teenage daughter who is a Swiftie. Sure, the optics weren’t great, but what exactly did his detractors want him to do? Leave in the middle of Shake it Off and fly to Montreal to personally scold protesters?

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Attacking him like this may play well with anti-Trudeau folks, but it’s petty politics. Irresponsible rage-farming — exaggerating the lawlessness and extent of Friday’s damages — is manipulating people’s fears and frustration over ongoing protests in order to attack Trudeau. Does the “Canada is broken” crowd expect him to personally employ tear gas to disperse the crowd?

In 2010, when G20 protests rocked Toronto, cars were burning and storefront windows were smashed, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was blocks away enjoying a peaceful dinner at the Royal York Hotel with other world leaders. Should he have thrown his napkin on the floor, pushed back his chair and personally jogged a few blocks over to establish the peace?

I’m not downplaying the violence and vandalism or the concerns they engender in many Montrealers. I know this past year has been hard on my Jewish friends who are worried about rising antisemitism around the world. My Palestinian friends are no less worried.

People’s democratic right to protest about ongoing human-rights violations in Gaza should be upheld, while ensuring there’s no room for antisemitic speech or actions.

We must practise caution in what we share. Criticize someone on their policies, not on their personal time with their family.

Toula Drimonis is a Montreal journalist and the author of We, the Others: Allophones, Immigrants, and Belonging in Canada.

toulastake@gmail.com

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