A councillor in Milton, Ontario, has lodged a complaint with local police, claiming that a recent anti-Israel protest was illegal and posed a risk to public safety. The protest, titled "Globalize the Intifada," occurred on September 6 in downtown Milton and was co-organized by the group Liberate Palestine Forty-Eight.

Video footage from the event, shared on the group's Instagram, shows demonstrators chanting phrases such as "Intifada, Intifada, long live the Intifada," and "There is only one solution." Some attendees wore clothing with the slogan "From the river to the sea," which some interpret as a call for the elimination of Israel. A black pickup truck equipped with a loudspeaker led the march, crossing the yellow median line on Milton's Main Street while drums played in the background.

Councillor John Challinor II stated, "It was an illegal protest. They had not sought a permit from the Town of Milton, they had not reached out for paid traffic management services by the police, which is really important. They had no insurance, right? Those are the three key things. So when you’re doing that, you’re putting yourself at risk. As a group, if you do protest, you’re putting the public at risk."

Challinor raised his concerns during a town hall meeting on September 8, a day after reporting the incident to the Halton Regional Police Service. He expressed that many residents are questioning their safety in Milton. "These illegal protests need to stop immediately. Not next year. Not next month. Not even next week. Now," he said, urging local leaders to address what he described as lawlessness in the community.

Despite his complaints, Challinor does not anticipate action from the police or town council. He noted, "I have heard nothing from Milton Council, other than they have referred their constituents with questions to me. All constituents who have reached out to me through my fellow councillors wanted to know how the illegal protests can be stopped."

Liberate Palestine Forty-Eight did not respond to requests for comment. However, another organizing group, the Milton Palestine Action Committee, issued a statement to the town council addressing Challinor's claims. They argued that his comments were misleading and aimed at silencing citizens exercising their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly. "These protests respond to genocide. That word is not rhetoric — it is fact in law and evidence," the statement read.

The Milton Palestine Action Committee also refuted Challinor's assertion that they did not seek a permit, stating that town staff had previously informed organizers that permits for road closures related to protests are not issued. They claimed to have coordinated with Halton Police for traffic management and public safety during the demonstrations.

Rob Faulkner, a public relations advisor for the town, confirmed that Milton does not issue permits specifically for protests. He noted that permits may be issued for events requiring road closures or noise exemptions, but the town was not approached for permits for this event.

The Halton Regional Police Service acknowledged receipt of Challinor's complaint and stated that it would be reviewed by their District Response Unit. Police reported that over a dozen officers were dispatched to ensure public safety and manage traffic during the protest. They noted that no significant incidents or arrests occurred and that officers did not observe any behavior classified as hate speech.

Challinor described the scene during the protest as chaotic, stating, "There was chaos. Chaos on that street, on Main Street, chaos on the streets that are secondary to it. That’s what got people upset. Crown attorneys and the court system have to take a hard, legally compliant line on hate speech, illegal protests and the organization of acts that threaten public safety."

Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz did not respond to requests for comment. Councillor Colin Best directed inquiries to the mayor's office, while Councillor Adil Khalqi suggested contacting Halton police.

Josh Landau, director of government relations for the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs in Ontario, expressed concern over a rise in hate and violence in Canada since the October 7 attacks by Hamas. He urged government leaders to confront extremism and enhance security for the Jewish community.

Challinor stated he felt compelled to speak out due to growing frustration with the protests. "Honestly, I’d had enough. I really felt that it was time to make it very clear that this is not acceptable in our community," he said. "It really was, I felt, time to sort of draw the line because it’s having a negative impact on our community."