Pro-Palestine Protest Turns Heated Without Police Escort

0:00It's April 4th. You're listening to Vancouver News today, AI-powered local news. Tensions rose Saturday during the first weekly pro-Palestine protest, without Victoria Police providing escorts, all due to tight budgets. Around 1 p.m., folks gathered at the legislature steps when a counter-protester waving an Israeli flag stepped right into the mix and started, chanting. The crowd hid back with their own pro-Palestine chant, and things heated up when the guy tried talking to demonstrators and made contact with one, drawing a swarm around him. Two officers quickly stepped in, guiding the man away down government street to cool things off. Protesters then marched along the same street, blocking traffic with no police interference, signaling how these weekly rallies might play out from, here on.