Keeping violence under control

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/11/2023 (867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When you’re talking about terror attacks, rape, and shelling that kills children and non-combatants, it seems almost offensive — or perhaps naïve — to say, “Let’s try to keep the temperature down.”

But let’s try — at least here.

By all means, demonstrate for peace and a ceasefire in the Middle East, if that’s what you believe is the best route forward right now. Equally, demonstrate to raise awareness about the absolute evil of heinous and indiscriminate terror attacks. Demonstrate for the right of countries to protect themselves and their citizens. Demonstrate for the release of hundreds of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.

But demonstrating to oppose a nearby demonstration — deliberately setting up emotionally charged groups in opposition to each other? What, exactly, is to be gained by that, except the dark catharsis of displaying your rage in shouted words, or worse, actions?

Holding matching protests and counterprotests at the same time and in the same place is a recipe for eventual tragedy — emotions are high, and the very thing you’re protesting or counterprotesting about is only a literal stone’s throw away. And stones have been thrown.

Winnipeg Police have said that standing by in case of trouble at combined protest/counterprotest events is a strain on police resources and interferes with the ability of the department to handle their other responsibilities.

“This is a substantial draw on police resources,” Supt. Dave Dalal said at a news conference on Oct. 27. “We are not trying to police beliefs (but) we are concerned about the behaviour at these events.”

Some have described that position as putting an official chill on the rights of the public to protest — that response is correct, to a degree. But the police concern is also a legitimate one: what, exactly, is the purpose of bringing two angry groups — both of whom may honestly feel their anger is legitimate — together? And, in that powder keg of a situation, if violence erupted and police were not prepared and staffed to react, wouldn’t the public argue immediately that the risk was clear and that the police should have been better prepared?

Let’s continue to try and keep from importing public violence. It is, in other parts of this country, emboldening a subset of racists to increase vandalism and hatred.

Quite simply, public violence acts like a licence for more violence, especially among those predisposed to racist acts.

There have been racist incidents in Winnipeg, as was also outlined at Supt. Dalal’s news conference. There have been eggs thrown at residences, antisemitic graffiti, and even what appears to have been a racially motivated shot fired at a residence here.

But that’s still less than has occurred in other parts of Canada.

Three times, guns have been fired at Montreal Jewish schools. Over 100 police were needed to extract Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from a pro-Palestinian protest surrounding a Vancouver restaurant Tuesday night.

We’re not saying that you shouldn’t be strong and stand up for your beliefs. But also be thoughtful, aware and as understanding as you can be as you make your point.

Violence begets violence. We do not need that contagion.

We’ve done well so far at dialing back the thermostat, at least in Manitoba. Even organizers of demonstrations are being careful to maintain control over their events.

But that can change remarkably quickly, if we let it.

There is more than enough violence already.