Photo credit: CTV News
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the start of a defence conference in London, Ontario, on Tuesday morning.
The Canadian Press reports that they blocked off entrances to the building and locked some doors with bicycle locks.
However, the crowd soon dispersed, and London police said one person was arrested. Protest organizers said the group from southern Ontario was demanding that Canada impose an immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel and stop plans to ramp up military spending.
Police were seen tackling some people to the ground before the conference was scheduled to start. Protesters were also physically clashing with event staff. Some were taking steel fencing from a nearby construction site and using it to push and shove.
Other protesters lined up around the perimeter of the building. They were wearing kaffiyehs and holding signs.
Angelune Des Lauriers of Labour for Palestine said the group wanted to draw attention to the fact that conference sponsors include companies that manufacture weapons used in conflicts around the world.
The Best Defence Conference website advertises the event as the “premier” Canadian aerospace defence and public safety conference, bringing together defence and security companies, as well as Canadian Armed Forces representatives and defence procurement specialists.
