"I believe the first half of your statement comes off as a generalization which misleads and sensationalizes the events on the ground rather than reflecting fair and accurate reporting. I recommend that CBC clarify in a correction on air that these rioters were part of the black bloc movement."
November 27, 2024
To CBC Your World Tonight,
I am writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express my concern with your coverage of the anti-NATO demonstrations that occurred between Friday Nov. 22 - Nov. 25. I take particular issue with your segment on November 25 episode, which began about 9 minutes into the episode. The segment made an inaccurate statement in regards to alleged anti-NATO protesters smashing windows and setting a car on fire.
This is the specific mention that is inaccurate:
“Several groups gathered for the anti-NATO, pro-Palestinian demonstration, which was largely peaceful, until some protesters smashed windows and set cars on fire.”
That protesters lit a caught on fire is currently a highly suspect allegation and not established fact. Hadi Hassan, a journalist with TVA, reported that a tear gas grenade—a SKAT SHELL CS cartridge deployed by police—likely caused the vehicle fire. Video evidence and images by the reporter supports this possibility, and the SPVM itself stated the incident is under investigation. Without conclusive evidence, CBC should have reported this as a controversial allegation, not as a fact. I recommend that you make an on-air correction clarifying that the claim of rioters setting cars alight is unproven and remains under investigation. You should also acknowledge that there are compelling reports that the vehicle fire may have been caused by the Montreal police.
Regarding the "smashed windows" claim, Quebec’s Green Party leader Alex Tyrrell, an organizer of the anti-NATO demonstrations, provided photographic evidence showing only six broken windows at the Montreal Convention Centre (Palais des congrès). While it is fair to report on the broken windows, CBC is contributing to the sensationalising of this event by Canadian media. Most ordinary listeners probably imagine dozens of windows were smashed based on the broader coverage.
Furthermore, while I appreciate the fact that you reported on Montreal’s Mayor Valerie Plante calling some of the perpetrators “professional agitators,” I think the statement made is still a little vague for its listeners. The individuals who damaged property belong to the black bloc movement—a separate, identifiable group characterized by their all-black attire, balaclavas, and masks, including keffiyehs. As Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante noted, these "professional" rioters are already well-known to police and use their tactics in many protest contexts. They are distinct from other anti-NATO protest organizers who were also demonstrating that day, such as the UQAM Divest for Palestine collective. Their members demonstrate openly, refrain from property damage, and are represented by their spokesperson Benoit Allard, who gives interviews without using a mask.
Therefore, I believe the first half of your statement comes off as a generalization which misleads and sensationalizes the events on the ground rather than reflecting fair and accurate reporting. I recommend that CBC clarify in a correction on air that these rioters were part of the black bloc movement.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters and for your commitment to fair and accurate reporting. I look forward to your prompt response and the necessary adjustments being made.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East