Pro-Palestinian protesters block CN rail line south of Montreal, four arrested

Pro-Palestinian protestors who blocked CN Rail tracks in Quebec on Saturday said they did so because the railway helps send goods to Israel. CN referred questions to police.

Via Rail passenger trains as well as Canadian National freight trains were delayed for several hours Saturday morning after about 30 pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked a CN track in St. Bruno, Que., south of Montreal.

The railway line owned by CN connects Montreal to Halifax, where protesters claim goods are shipped to Israel.

Local Longueuil police said that they received a 911 call at about 10:05 a.m. They asked protesters blocking the tracks at the intersection of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Seigneurial boulevards to move. According to police spokesperson Melanie Mercille, after protesters refused to move, the police’s emergency intervention unit broke up the barricade an hour and a half later.

Police say four officers were pepper sprayed and four people, both men and women in their 20s and 30s, are facing charges ranging from obstruction to assault.

Mercille added that other demonstrators fled and that police were patrolling the area to ensure no other laws were broken.

In a press release, a group called the Ad-hoc BDS Direct Action Collective blamed CN Rail for helping transport goods to Israel, which they accuse of genocide in its conflict with Hamas. According to the release, the blockade was meant to “temporarily interrupt trade, draw attention to Canada’s material support, and inspire further boycott, divestment, and sanctions direct action.”

The top United Nations court has concluded there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza — a charge Israel strongly denies, telling the court it was doing everything it could to protect the civilian population during its military operation in Gaza. Israel claims the operation in Gaza is focused on destroying Hamas and bringing the remaining hostages home after the Oct. 7 attacks.

This is the latest in a number of actions across the country calling for divestments and sanctions against Israel. A week ago, an encampment was set up at Victoria Square in Old Montreal, as well as the multiple encampments on university campuses across North America, including one at McGill University, which is still in place.