Four people charged after pro-Palestine demonstration downtown: Police

Police arrested four people on Monday evening after a protest in the downtown core.

Officials said in a press release that the pro-Palestine demonstrators ignored directions from police and blocked a street. The group had gathered on Elgin Street at around 5:00 p.m. and were told by Police Liaison Team (PLT) members “multiple times” that the demonstration would need to stay on the sidewalk and not obstruct traffic.

“Demonstrators did not wish to comply with these requests,” police said.

According to officers, a 20-minute delay ensued where demonstrators took over a portion of the Elgin Street and Nepean Street intersection, which blocked the City of Ottawa parking garage.

Protestors began moving on the sidewalk of Laurier Avenue West, and turned north on Metcalfe Street and “took over the street.”

“Despite repeated orders from police and dialogue with PLT members at that location, the demonstrators remained and interactions between police and demonstrators began,” police said.

Four demonstrators were arrested and charged with several offences after the interactions. One person was charged with assaulting police and three were charged with both mischief and obstruction of a peace officer. Police took the arrested people to the Elgin Street headquarters and shortly after demonstrators arrived.

According to officials, they continued to protest until about 11:00 p.m. and some made calls for people to “flood police phone lines.”

“Communications Centre then began receiving some frivolous calls on 911 and other, non-urgent phone lines,” the press release reads.

The four people charged will appear in court this morning.

CityNews Ottawa reached out to the demonstrators for comment but did not hear back before publication.