Victoria police ending attendance at Gaza protest marches after 126 weeks

VICTORIA – Police in Victoria are asking pro-Palestine protesters to stop marching on public roads on their way to and from the legislature building, citing the drain on police resources from attending the event 126 times in a row.

The Victoria Police Department also said it would stop providing support for the street portion of the weekly marches effective April 4.

Police Chief Fiona Wilson said in a statement that the decision was not a judgment on the merits of the cause, but a “necessary step” to ensure “sustainable policing and protect the long-term health” of officers.

The department said it had dedicated more than 10,000 hours of officer time to support the protests every week, dating back to the fall of 2023 and the start of the Gaza war.

Insp. Connor King, who is in charge of operational planning for Victoria police, said policing the marches had cost $1.2 million.

But financial reasons played almost no role in the decision to stop offering support, he said. Most of the costs have been billed to the legislature, where the marches start and finish.

“So this isn’t by and large coming out of Vic PD’s budget,” he said.

The department said it remained “fully committed” to protecting the right to peaceful assembly, but “strongly urges” protesters not to march on roadways because of the “serious and immediate safety risks.” 

Victoria to Palestine, the group that organizes the weekly protest did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Muslim and Jewish leaders, demonstration organizers and the city had been told of the changes, the department said. 

King said the “vast majority” of officers at the protests had already worked their full weekly hours.

While they were being paid overtime, the extra work was impacting their wellness, King said.  

“Almost all of them are on a day off, and they are doing this extra work, and that creates a great deal of burnout and exhaustion,” he said. “Those Saturdays should be spent, when they are not scheduled, on rest and relaxation and recovery.”

King said the police department cannot “be forever dedicated to this event,” adding that the department is already short-staffed. 

He said the department would use the last march it will attend on  Saturday, March 28,  to educate participants about the coming changes.

“Our goal is to engage in conversation and dialogue to fully explain what we are doing, and why we are doing it,” he said. “We are really to take the guesswork or the mystery out what we are trying to accomplish here.”

King said police didn’t want protesters to “take to the streets, and walk in a busy downtown environment,” adding it was “clearly very dangerous.” 

Asked if the move could undermine freedom of expression and assembly, King said protesters could continue to assemble on the grounds of the legislature. 

“They can assemble in parks, they can assemble on city property,” he said, adding that is “fundamentally important” for police to help the public exercise their Charter rights. 

King said he also expected a “dramatically” reduced police presence at the legislature on April 4. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2026.