Police continue to investigate assault following tense weekend protest
Two Londoners describe feeling shock after watching violent actions of some peace protesters
London police said Monday no charges have been laid after two people were arrested on Saturday when anti-Islam groups clashed with counter-protesters who came to support peace and diversity outside City Hall.
A group called the Patriots of Canada Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) organized a rally supported by other far-right groups. A counter peace protest brought many more demonstrators together in response.
One person was arrested for alleged assault though police would not elaborate on what may have happened.
"The investigating officer is still in the process of determining what exactly took place, who the victim is, whether or not an individual would like to proceed with charges," said police spokesperson Constable Sandasha Bough.
A woman was captured by a local media photographer spitting in the face of a far-right protestor.
Another man was taken into custody about an hour into the rally after an altercation and was investigated for breach of peace. Police said the man was released without charge.
Shocked by actions of some 'peace' supporters
One anti-hate protester told CBC's London Morning Monday she was shocked by the actions of some on her side describing a confrontation she found herself in the middle of.
Teresa Tarasewicz, co-owner of City Lights Bookstore, said she was walking through the crowd when a man shove a woman from PEGIDA into a mailbox.
"It was a full body blow," Tarasewicz said. "I shielded her with my body, turned to him, put my hand out and told him to back off, with some swearing attached to it."
Tarasewicz said the man appeared to be a bit of a loan wolf. "He seemed to really enjoy escalating the violence."
She helped the female PEGIDA protester up and walked her back to a safe zone.
"And we just looked at each other. We (were) on opposing sides and we hugged… and …just kind of hung out a little bit," said Tarasewicz.
'We can't threaten people out of our community'
Another counter-protester, John Densky, a London-based photojournalist, said he also observed a lot of yelling and heated conservation between the two sides.
Densky said it concerned him because "we can't threaten these people out of our communities."
He said he thought the far-right protesters managed to stay composed, despite being outnumbered by about 10 to 1.
"I even applauded one of the Three Percenters," whom he described as a militia that hires itself out to protect members of PEGIDA and others.
He told the member: "You guys kept your cool. You did a very good job in the face of a lot of animosity."
Later, on reflection, he said he considered that a bit of a naïve reaction.
Still, Densky, like Tarasewicz, was concerned about some of the comments he heard from so-called peaceful protesters.
"I heard a lot of really vile language. I heard death threats. I heard a lot of homophobic comments ... from a select group of people."
Densky worries that such behaviour plays into the hands of groups like PEGIDA.
"And if they felt the need to show up to these rallies with paramilitary forces to provide them with security, then they're obviously displaying that they feel under threat."
Densky said to properly engage with opponents, some anti-hate protesters need to "dial down" their aggression.
Otherwise, he added, "we're heading for violence."