Ontario School Board Meeting Disrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protesters

Pro-Palestine protesters marched along Bay Street in downtown Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023. They were seen holding large banners, including one that reads "Smash Israeli Apartheid, Free Palestine," and another that reads "Resistance is Justified When People Are Occupied." Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

A meeting of Peel District School Board (PDSB) trustees was interrupted by a group of noisy pro-Palestinian protesters on Nov. 28, causing officials to move to a private room to finish business.

Video of the Nov. 28 meeting shows a group in the gallery standing up and chanting about 15 minutes after it began.

Chairperson David Green asked them not to disturb the meeting.

“If you have something to say, I will stay back and we will have a conversation, but let’s respect each other. Let’s respect the board meeting,” he said.

As the meeting continued, members of the group could be heard shouting and clapping. They started chanting “Let them speak.”

Mr. Green clarified to the trustees that a delegation request had been made.

“They were told they have to delegate the appropriate committees. Letters here who asked them the delegate our program and curriculum committees and then the report would come to the board,” he explained.

“We have not heard back anything from them since then.”

The group continued to shout at the trustees while Mr. Green tried to get on with agenda business.

“We have motions that we have to address,” he said.

The group continued to chant “Let them speak.”

Mr. Green called for order in the boardroom several times, but the group continued to shout at the trustees.

Pro-Palestinian rallies and protests have been held across Canada, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas, who rule Gaza, after a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Israel responded with military action. Protesters, including a rally that disrupted the Saskatchewan legislature on Nov. 20, have been calling on governments to pressure Israel to stop military action.

Recess Called

A recess was called at the PDSB meeting and the trustees reconvened in a private room to continue with the meeting.

Around 40 minutes after the meeting started, voices could be heard shouting outside the room and then there was knocking on the door.

Mr. Green continued with meeting business. The knocking then turned to loud pounding on the door, and councillors could be heard saying such behaviour was “not reasonable.”

The protesters were then able to get the door open and attempted to enter the room. At that point, the meeting was adjourned.

A pro-Palestinian group had made two social media posts inviting supporters to attend the school board meeting. The posts invited people to show support for Palestinians at the meeting but didn’t clarify what they wanted to discuss or achieve by attending the meeting.

The school board acknowledged the disruption in an email to The Epoch Times.

“I can confirm that at our board meeting on the evening of November 29, 2023, trustees were required to move to a different location in order for the meeting to proceed. This was due to disruption by public meeting attendees,” spokesperson Malon Edwards said.

“The live stream of the meeting continued to be available to members of the public in the new location.”

Mr. Edwards said that no arrests were made.

“We recognize that this continues to be a deeply difficult time for students, staff, and members of our shared communities as we contend with the loss of lives and the impact of current global events,” he wrote.

“We are committed to reinforcing a sense of community, support, and care for our students, educators, and staff in our schools, worksites, and classrooms. It is our commitment to uphold the human rights of all that we serve.”

On Oct. 9, the director of education for Peel District School Board, Rashmi Swarup, issued a statement regarding the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

“Our thoughts are with all those impacted and mourning the lives of those killed during the conflict over this past weekend in the Middle East,” she wrote.

“We recognize that as Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian students and staff contend with this loss of lives, these communities will need our support and understanding.”

Ms. Swarup included a list of mental health supports available for those in the region.