Protest and shutdown at legislature prompts accusations and security changes

For 40 minutes on Monday, the Saskatchewan legislature saw something that had not happened in recent memory, as dozens of protesters in the public galleries shut down the debate and security intervened.

The activists came to the legislature Monday afternoon to holding a rally outside, before entering the building for question period.

The group signaled to the media in a news release that they planned to rally and "flood the legislature." They said they wanted Premier Scott Moe to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel, and for the province to end its support of Israel.

The protesters began to shout "ceasefire now" a few minutes into question period. When they would not come to order, Speaker Randy Weekes ordered the sitting suspended due to "grave disorder."

Security entered the public galleries to escort visitors and protesters out. Upon leaving, many continued to chant and shout in halls and entrance.

One protester placed a Palestinian flag over a flagpole flying the Israeli flag. Moe's government has flown the flag inside the rotunda of the building since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Moe said Tuesday the flag would remain until the lighting on the menorah later this year. 

The Saskatchewan government also pledged $100,000 in emergency aid to Israel on Oct. 10.

After leaving the building on Monday, protesters told CBC that seeing the Israel flag was upsetting.

"When we were walking out, when we were chanting ceasefire, the Israel flag in the middle, how is that not provocative? If you want to, say, have peaceful protests and remain neutral, then you practise the same thing that you preach to us," said Tayyaba Farooq.

"How are we supposed to walk in there and not feel provoked and not feel like there's already a bias as we're walking in there? Or not feel like our voices are already shut down before we even raise a voice when we walk into that?"

On Thursday, Moe asked Beck about a meeting NDP headquarters on Nov. 14 involving Beck, other Opposition caucus members and a group later involved in the protest. Moe accused the Opposition of playing a role in the disruption.

On Nov. 15, Opposition Leader Carla Beck called for the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas and a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Beck denied the NDP did anything other than listen to the group's concerns. She said she had also met recently with members of the Jewish community.

On Tuesday, Moe said Hamas broke the ceasefire with its attack on Oct. 7. He has not called for a ceasefire and said he continues to support Israel's right to "defend itself."