‘Abundance of caution’ drives city to move menorah for day

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This article was published 11/12/2023 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fears of sparking conflict caused the City of Winnipeg to temporarily move its menorah inside city hall.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the Dec. 8 overnight move of the large, freestanding menorah (which annually faces Main Street near the city hall Christmas tree) was “out of an abundance of caution” and was not meant to offend anyone in the local Jewish community.

“We had heard word about two planned rallies to take place at city hall by those supporting Palestine,” Gillingham said Monday. “It was simply an abundance of caution to avoid any potential conflict that could have happened. It really was out of an effort to try to be prudent and try to ensure no conflict would occur.”

One of those events was organized to take place outside city hall Saturday at 1 p.m.

Gillingham said the menorah — which has a single light illuminated on each of the eight days of the annual Jewish festival Hanukkah — was brought inside for about 24 hours, starting late afternoon Dec. 8, before being returned to its normal spot the next day at about 6 p.m.

It was done after consultations between the city and Winnipeg Police Service, the mayor said.

“In no way was it intended to offend anybody or to not stand with the Jewish community as well,” the mayor said, noting there will be a Hanukkah ceremony inside city hall Tuesday.

Jeff Lieberman, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said he understands the precautionary measure.

“It was a proactive step to safeguard the menorah from potential damage amid gatherings,” Lieberman said Monday in a statement. “It was reinstated once the protests concluded, where it will stand proudly on display for the duration of Hanukkah.

“Whenever groups gather there is a chance of property damage, either by mistake or malice. We appreciate the measures taken to protect this symbol and ensure its continued presence as part of our city’s holiday celebrations this year.”

However, Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she doesn’t believe it should have been moved at all.

“When you hide a religious symbol like the hanukkiah, you are really sending the wrong message,” said the chairwoman of the property and development committee.

“It is supposed to be a light and, in Winnipeg, that light should be protected. And it should be protected by having it proudly stand, as it does every year for years and years, in front of city hall.”

Rollins added she doesn’t think pro-Palestinian protesters would have damaged the structure.

“I am thinking that the protests we have seen at city hall or otherwise have been peaceful protests,” she said. “So I’m a little offended, on behalf of those that were protesting peacefully, that they would (be thought to) suddenly go and attack the hanukkiah.

“If it needs protection, and the police have some kind of special knowledge, then that is owed to the community. The Jewish community, who has their hanukkiah out in their windows, need to be told if there is a special threat. I don’t think there is one.”

The Israel-Hamas war, which began with the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel, has resulted in the deaths of more than 17,700 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis, according to most recent reports.

In its wake, public protests and counter protests — and instances and accusations of antisemitism and Islamophobia — have risen significantly around the globe.

Ron East, founder of the Israeli Canadian Council, said he was “unlawfully arrested” by Winnipeg police before he could participate in a Sunday counter protest of a pro-Palestine gathering at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

“In the process of the arrest, I was injured. I ended up having what’s called a carpal strain and strained ligaments and a possible broken bone in my left hand as a result of the way that I was handcuffed and handled,” East said Monday.

The pro-Israel activist said he was parked outside the downtown national museum when a group of counter protesters around 10:30 a.m. to request they move their vehicles.

They agreed to comply, East said, but an altercation ensued when he asked a police officer why he was being aggressive towards the group and the constable subsequently ordered him to produce his driver’s licence.

East said he declined to hand over any documentation.

On Monday, he said he did not believe he was breaking any laws and police “manhandled” him.

The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed a 52-year-old man was arrested for charges related to obstruction of justice and the Highway Traffic Act.

WPS Const. Dani McKinnon noted the charges have yet to be formally laid in court.

“Anyone wishing to make a complaint regarding the circumstances of an arrest is encouraged to do so by way of (the Law Enforcement Review Agency) or (City of Winnipeg),” McKinnon said in a statement.

— with files from Maggie Macintosh 

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

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