Palestine flag raising cancellation prompts city hall demonstration in Regina
CTV
Despite the cancellation of a planned flag raising, a group of demonstrators gathered at Regina city hall Friday to mark Palestine’s Independence Day.
Despite the cancellation of a planned flag raising, a group of demonstrators gathered at Regina city hall Friday to mark Palestine’s Independence Day.
Fatma Khairy was one of around 100 people taking part amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“If I went through a difficult time, I'd like someone to stand with me, to help me, to support me. That's why I'm here. To support people in Gaza,” Khairy said.
Palestine’s flag may not have been raised on the city’s ceremonial pole, but there was no shortage of them waving in front of City Hall.
Demonstrators expressed frustration with both the conflict in the middle east and the city’s last minute change, announced the night before the planned flag raising at the direction of outgoing Mayor Sandra Masters.
"It’s unfair, and it's a coward action. Why do you want to silence your citizens?” Khairy said.
Police helped de-escalate a brief clash with a counter-protestor, but the conflict in Gaza has been a source of tension in cities across Canada and elsewhere. It also led to a review of Regina’s flag policy earlier this year after an Israeli flag was raised in May.
