Pro-Palestinian demonstrators say they won't be silenced by noise fines

Members of the Palestinian community in Ottawa say they are being unfairly targeted by the city's bylaw department after being issued nearly $1,500 in fines during a downtown demonstration.

Three ticketsworth $490 eachwere issued to participants of a Saturday march organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The afternoon march made its way from the Human Rights Monument on Elgin Streetto Rideau Street.

The city's director ofbylaw and regulatory services said in an emailedstatement the tickets were issued under thenoise bylaw because of the group's use of loudspeakers and megaphones in a public space and sidewalk.

Roger Chapman noted warnings were issued first before the tickets were given out.

"It's important to note that enforcement during demonstrations is a result of escalated actions by the participants, which may pose nuisance and public safety issues," his statement read.

'Never an issue' before, say protest organizers

Sarah Abdul-Karim called the moment she received one of the tickets "quite shocking."

That's because, in spite of warnings from bylaw officers earlier that day, "this is never an issue that has come up in the tenweeks of us protesting," she said.

Abdul-Karim said the group used the same sound system at the same volume in previous weeks. All marches have lasted between one to two hours in duration and have taken place at various locations downtown, including the Human Rights Monument.

Saturday'sdemonstration was no exception, she said.

"This is an effort by the bylaw and by the City of Ottawa to try and silence and stop us from protesting," said Abdul-Karim, who plans on fighting her ticket along with the two others issued over the weekend.

The group is currently obtaining legal council, she said.

Chapman did not clarify what had escalated during last weekend's demonstration but saidcharges under the noise bylaw have been issued during other protests.

Cancel fines, says Palestinian association

TheAssociation of Palestinian Arab Canadians is calling on the city to cancel the tickets.

Ammar Afanehwith the association said they have worked closely with Ottawa police and bylaw to make sure protests are well-organized and "non-obstructive as much as possible."

Even with the use of sound systems and megaphones, he said, it's difficult for every demonstrator to hear organizers, "so how are we causing noise to others?"

While he could only speculatewhy tickets were being issued now, Afaneh said Palestinians and their supporters have every right to peaceful demonstrate in Ottawa.

"We need our voices to be heard" and those voices shouldn't be silenced, he said. "I was very disappointed to see that happening."

Afaneh said there are no plans to end the weekly protests, even with the threat of fines.