A person holds up a sign during a pro-Palestine rally in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. A debate is raging over a phrase being chanted by pro-Palestinian activists at rallies across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
CALGARY – The lawyer for a man who was charged by Calgary police after repeatedly chanting a phrase used by pro-Palestinian activists says the case has been stayed.
Wesam Cooley, who is 32, was charged following a protest at city hall earlier this month with causing a disturbance, and a hate motivation was applied.
Police alleged he repeatedly used an “antisemitic phrase” while encouraging the crowd to follow along.
Cooley’s lawyer, Zachary Al-Khatib, says he received notice from the Crown prosecutor’s office today that the charge has been stayed.
No one from the prosecution office could immediately be reached for comment.
Al-Khatib has said it appears Cooley was arrested for chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestinians will be free.”
Many Palestinian activists say the chant is a call for peace and equality, but Jewish activists say they hear a clear demand for Israel’s destruction.
