A man has been charged for allegedly accelerating his car at a Palestine peace march demonstrator in Victoria earlier this month.
The man faces one count of assault with a weapon and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, Victoria police said on Friday. The man is currently in custody after he was arrested on Dec. 3, and subsequently released.
His charges stem from an incident at the B.C. legislature that coincided with an event called Unite for Peace: March for Palestine. Police said the man drove onto the sidewalk as he accelerated his vehicle at a demonstrator, nearly striking the pedestrian.
Videos of the incident posted online show a grey Nissan sedan accelerate at a person walking on the sidewalk beside the protective bollards on the B.C. legislature含羞草研究社檚 grounds.
A man was arrested at the B.C. legislature on Dec. 3 after he accelerated his car at a Palestine march demonstrator, who was walking on the sidewalk at the time and narrowly evaded the vehicle as it sped toward them.
含羞草研究社� Victoria News (@VictoriaNews)
In the video posted on social media, the driver is also seen getting out of his car and approaching another attendee of the demonstration who was watching the situation unfold.
含羞草研究社淔rom the river to the sea eh, that含羞草研究社檚 what they said since 含羞草研究社�48,含羞草研究社� the driver is heard saying in the face of the onlooker, who responded with 含羞草研究社渁nd.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淪o when are you going to get the f***in reality and go back to Jordan,含羞草研究社� the driver continued.
A uniformed protective services staff member then steps into the frame. The demonstrator then tells the protective services officer that the driver tried to attack them and the driver responds by yelling 含羞草研究社渢his guy is a terrorist organization supporter.含羞草研究社�
The National Council of Canadian Muslims said it was deeply concerned by the incident.
含羞草研究社淭his is the kind of apparent violence we have seen increase across this country. It is reprehensible, and our leaders must step up to stem this tide of hate,含羞草研究社� the organization said in a social media post at the time.
Saying the driver accosted the march attendee with a 含羞草研究社渞acist tirade,含羞草研究社� the National Council added that Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism have no place in Canada.
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