Jacques Cartier Bridge reopens after demonstration for Palestine causes closure during morning rush hour

MONTREAL – The Jacques Cartier Bridge, one of the main traffic arteries between Montreal and the South Shore, was closed to traffic in both directions during much of the morning rush hour on Thursday morning, due to the presence of pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Shortly after 7:00 a.m., a press release was issued by people claiming to be responsible for the demonstration, which was motivated by the Israel-Hamas war.

The demonstrators called on the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Protesters waving Palestinian flags carried Montreal street furniture onto the bridge, near the de Lorimier Avenue exit, to block traffic.

Police officers were seen in Montreal and Longueuil urging motorists approaching the bridge to take a different direction. Other motorists trapped on the bridge from around 6:45 a.m. onwards were forced to turn back.

At around 8:30 a.m. the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated posted on X that the traffic lanes were beginning to reopen.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) reported no arrests in connection with the protest. Demonstrators appear to have left the Montreal side of the bridge peacefully.

In Vancouver on Wednesday, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators surrounded a Chinatown restaurant where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was dining. Dozens of police were dispatched to control the crowd, who were calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

-This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 16, 2023.