"Reporting allegations as facts goes against the principles of responsible journalism. I urge you to correct this sentence to reflect that the claim of rioters setting cars alight is unproven and remains under investigation. You must also acknowledge that the vehicle fire may have been caused by the Montreal police."
November 27, 2024
To:
Tristin Hopper, Journalist, National Post
Rob Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, National Post
Dear Mr. Hopper and Mr. Roberts,
I'm writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to request a correction of errors in your recent article “How Montreal descended into two, near-simultaneous violent riots” published on November 26, 2024 by the National Post.
The article states that in “the lead-up to a vote at Dawson College, the school’s Muslim Students Association issued an open endorsement of religious war.” This statement is factually incorrect. The Dawson College Muslim Students Association (MSA) did not issue an open endorsement of religious war. Rather, the MSA posted an open letter on social media, calling on, as they say, “all Muslims and Students with conscience to vote YES for a student strike for Gaza.”
As the MSA spokesperson clarified: “It was not a threat, not at all. We mentioned Saladin, a historical hero. He was admired for his justice and noble character, even by his enemies. He was respected by everyone.”
Please correct this misrepresentation and remove the incorrect characterization of the letter as an endorsement of religious war.
Second, the article states: "On Friday evening, it was a separate anti-Israel demonstration converging on Montreal’s Palais des congrès conference centre that would yield images of masked men in keffiyehs smashing windows and setting cars alight." Once again, Mr. Hopper, you are presenting this as fact, despite these claims being disputed by credible sources on the ground.
Let’s break this down. 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). This is not the "mass destruction" implied by your reporting. If you’re going to invoke the actions of "rioters," you need to be more accurate instead of condemning all anti-NATO protesters in one broad sweep.
Perhaps I can provide some insights into Montreal's protest politics, as it seems there may be a gap in your understanding. 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 protests as opportunities to commit crimes. They are distinct from other protest organizers, such as the UQAM Divest for Palestine collective, whose members demonstrate openly, refrain from property damage, and are represented by their spokesperson Benoit Allard, who gives interviews without hiding behind a mask.
Therefore, your generalization is misleading and sensationalizes the events on the ground rather than reflecting fair and accurate reporting. I urge you to revise this section to specifically mention the rioters were part of the black bloc movement.
Now, let’s address the second half of your claim about "masked men setting cars alight." This is currently an allegation and not 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. Yet, you uncritically regurgitate the baseless assumption that protesters were responsible. Without conclusive evidence, this should be reported as a claim.
Reporting allegations as facts goes against the principles of responsible journalism. I urge you to correct this sentence to reflect that the claim of rioters setting cars alight is unproven and remains under investigation. You must also acknowledge that the vehicle fire may have been caused by the Montreal police.
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.
Warm regards,
Lynn Naji and Anthony Issa
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East