‘Anti-war’ demonstrators gather at ‘Halifax Peace and Freedom Park’

Chants of “a better world is possible” flooded through Cornwallis Park during an anti-war demonstration outside of the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday.

However, the 30 or so participants covered up Cornwallis’s statue with sheets and called the park by a different name.

To them it’s called, “Halifax Peace and Freedom Park.”

“Over three million of Canadian taxpayer dollars is being used to bring these war criminals and their apologists to our city. We think it’s a stain on Halifax, just as Cornwallis’s statue is a stain on Halifax,” Allan Bezanson said, a long-standing participant of the anti-war group, No Harbour for War.

The annual three-day forum gathers political and military leaders from around the world and was opened up by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on Friday.

The Washington, D.C., organization describes the forum as an opportunity for democratic leaders to discuss global security and prosperity.

However, demonstrators with No Harbour for War feel the intent of the forum is misleading.

“It’s not about security, it’s about insecurity and it’s not a forum because ordinary people can’t be accredited to attend,” Bezanson said.

Sixty countries are being represented with more than 300 delegates in attendance.

The participants include business leaders, diplomats, security analysts, policy makers and journalists.

Much of the first-day discussions revolved around president-elect Donald Trump and how his agenda may influence discussions around international security, including NATO.

Sajjan reinforced Canada’s commitment to NATO and plans to enhance its role in the North Atlantic military alliance.

“It’s our government’s position that we will play a stronger leadership role with NATO and we have done that. We know that NATO plays a very important role to the collective defence and some of the challenges we face,” he said.

The international security forum wrapped up on Sunday.