Advertisement

Far right groups and opponents clash outside Montreal City Hall

Click to play video: 'Protesters and opponents clash at Montreal rally'
Protesters and opponents clash at Montreal rally
WATCH: Protesters and opponents clash at Montreal rally. Felicia Parrillo reports – Mar 4, 2017

Two groups of protesters faced off outside Montreal City Hall Saturday.

On one side, far right groups opposed to a government motion condemning Islamophobia.

READ MORE: Thousands rally against Islamophobia across Canada as travel ban protests continue worldwide

On the other side, hundreds of opponents, equipped with anti-racism signs.

Montreal police in riot gear tried to keep the two groups apart, creating a barrier in between them and their views.

Story continues below advertisement

But still, tensions between the groups quickly flared, resulting in a few scuffles, but no reported injuries.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Protesters from far right groups said they’re against M-103, a motion currently before the house of commons, asking the government to condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination.

READ MORE: Motion condemning Islamophobia somehow controversial for Conservatives

These protesters argued the motion doesn’t define what Islamophobia means – therefore condemning it could suppress debates like sharia law.

“We want free speech, as is our right in the Charter of Freedoms,” said Norman Wintermute, from Pegida Quebec. “We have the right to opinion.”

Protesters said they stand for pro-Quebec values and claimed the protest, was to assert their right for free speech.

“We need to take less Muslims into our country,” Wintermute said. “We see this all over the place. It’s worse for Muslims, it’s worse for us.”

But anti-fascist activist, Jaggi Singh, from Solidarity Across Borders, said those views shouldn’t be acceptable.

READ MORE: Muslim groups call for action on Islamophobia

“They’re basically an Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, racist organization hiding behind free speech and there should be really no place for those kinds of groups in our society,” Singh said.

Story continues below advertisement

And so community members mobilized to confront the far right groups.

Montreal resident, Naheed Ali brought her young daughter to the protest, she said she wants to teach her what she calls fundamental values.

“There should be no division, there shouldn’t be any lines drawn between people by way of race, colour or ethnicity, or religious beliefs,” said Ali. “I want my daughter to see that there are people who stand up for humanity and what is right.”

Montreal Police said there were no arrests.

Sponsored content

AdChoices