--- title: "Crown withdraws charges against Montreal bank protesters" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/crown-withdraws-charges-against-montreal-bank-protesters" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/crown-withdraws-charges-against-montreal-bank-protesters" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/crown-withdraws-charges-against-montreal-bank-protesters.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/crown-withdraws-charges-against-montreal-bank-protesters" category: "Politics" published: "2026-10-26T23:45:47.412Z" source_reported: "2026-10-26T22:53:13.602Z" updated: "2026-10-27T00:00:08.114Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-27T01:00:10.047875+00:00" --- # Crown withdraws charges against Montreal bank protesters *14 demonstrators pleaded guilty to noise bylaw violation and paid fines to end legal action.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Trust 68 – includes named sources and official filing, but only one outlet and no multiple independent reports. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95 – explains relevance, quotes many parties, provides specific data, notes unknowns, and remains clear. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15 – language is measured with no sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Criminal mischief charges were withdrawn against 14 protesters arrested at a Montreal Scotiabank sit-in. - The protesters pleaded guilty to violating a municipal noise bylaw and paid $300 fines. - The sit-in occurred in April 2024, with protesters demanding the bank divest from Elbit Systems. - Scotiabank's subsidiary sold its remaining shares in Elbit Systems in February, a move protesters called a victory. The Crown withdrew criminal mischief charges against 14 pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday. The resolution came after the defendants agreed to plead guilty to violating a municipal noise bylaw and pay $300 fines each. These 14 individuals were among 44 people arrested in April 2024 during a sit-in at a Scotiabank branch. Their protest aimed to pressure the bank to divest from Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons manufacturer. During April hearings, a manager at the Scotiabank branch testified that the protesters did not threaten anyone or damage property. Defence lawyer Barbara Bedont stated that most other protesters had resolved their cases through community service. Bedont argued that the remaining defendants had a strong constitutional case and that criminalising peaceful sit-ins threatened freedom of expression. The case concluded months after Scotiabank's investment management subsidiary, 1832 Asset Management, disclosed in February that it had sold its remaining shares in Elbit Systems. Protesters viewed this sale as a victory for their campaign. Protester Mara Farrokh alleged that security camera footage shown in court depicted officers in riot gear stepping on a protester, but this footage has not been independently verified. ## Disagreement on footage verification Protester Mara Farrokh alleged that security camera footage showed officers in riot gear stepping on a protester, a claim that has not been independently verified. The Canadian Press has not viewed the footage described by Farrokh. CBC News reported that the allegations have not been independently verified. ## What the coverage left out No centre- or right-rated outlets covered this story, according to the provided material. The left-rated report did not include details on the total number of people arrested beyond the 44 mentioned, nor did it specify the exact date of the sit-in beyond April 2024. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 75% (9) - Centre: 25% (3) - Right: 0% (0) 3 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-27T01:00:10.047875+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-27T01:30:08.730Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from CBC News led with the withdrawal of criminal charges against the protesters. It highlighted the protesters' demand for Scotiabank to divest from Elbit Systems and framed the resolution as an end to a legal battle raising questions about the right to demonstrate. The report quoted protester Eli Tareq stating, “We want to make sure people can continue to fight things like this.” It also quoted Harar Hall saying, “We set out to pressure a Canadian bank to stop profiting from genocide, and in that case we won.” The report detailed protester Mara Farrokh's allegations of excessive police force, stating she claimed security camera footage showed officers in riot gear stepping on a protester, though this was not independently verified. CBC News also noted that protesters filed a complaint against the judge, alleging bias and unacceptable behaviour. ### Centre - All three centre outlets reported that the Crown withdrew every criminal charge linked to a pro‑Palestinian sit‑in at a downtown Montreal bank. They note that 44 people were arrested, fourteen of whom pleaded guilty to a municipal noise bylaw and will each pay a $300 fine. Defence lawyer Barbara Bedont said most had already resolved their cases through community service. - CTV News added that the demonstrators demanded Scotiabank divest from Israeli weapons maker Elbit Systems, and that the bank later sold its remaining Elbit shares, a result the protesters welcomed. The report also said the protesters filed a complaint against the presiding judge alleging bias, and that they had challenged the charges under the Charter. Bedont warned that criminalising peaceful sit‑ins threatens protest rights. - The Narcity and Winnipeg Free Press digests do not mention the Scotiabank divestment, the filed complaint against the judge, the Charter challenge, or Bedont’s warning about criminalising peaceful sit‑ins. Their summaries focus solely on the charge withdrawal, the number arrested, the fourteen noise‑bylaw pleas and the $300 fines, and the lawyer’s comment on prior community‑service resolutions. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/criminal-charges-withdrawn-montreal-protesters-9.7396880) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/national-business/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in-12940736) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [Western Investor](https://westerninvestor.com/national-business/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in-12940736) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/national-business/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in-12940725) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/no-criminal-charges-for-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in) — No criminal charges for Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [La Presse](https://lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-faits-divers/2026-10-26/sit-in-dans-une-banque-scotia/les-manifestants-ecopent-d-une-amende.php) — “Sit in” at a Scotiabank - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/montreal/montreal-sit-in-case-ends-with-fines) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [mtlblog.com](https://mtlblog.com/montreal-sit-in-case-ends-with-fines) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/canada/quebec/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in/article_a967b712-8227-563b-9f19-0784fdc5cd20.html) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/politics/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in/article_ace37603-18d4-578c-8be7-c5539fb32a30.html) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/politics/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in/article_0ac662a6-aec4-5c48-bffa-5f291d0d8dcd.html) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/politics/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in/article_bb443744-c693-5a18-ac1e-e55d3206c8db.html) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [The Record](https://therecord.com/politics/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in/article_b697a5b8-6f11-5b9d-bfe6-417d24833180.html) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/uncategorized/2026/10/26/crown-withdraws-criminal-charges-against-montreal-protesters-arrested-at-bank-sit-in) — Crown withdraws criminal charges against Montreal protesters arrested at bank sit-in ## Questions **Why were criminal charges withdrawn against the protesters?** The Crown withdrew criminal mischief charges against 14 protesters after they agreed to plead guilty to violating a municipal noise bylaw and pay $300 fines. This resolution ended the legal proceedings against them. **What was the reason for the protest at Scotiabank?** The protesters staged a sit-in at the Scotiabank branch to demand that the bank divest from Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons manufacturer. They accused the bank of profiting from military operations. **Did Scotiabank sell its shares in Elbit Systems?** Yes, Scotiabank's subsidiary, 1832 Asset Management, disclosed in February that it had sold its remaining shares in Elbit Systems. Protesters considered this a victory for their campaign. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/crown-withdraws-charges-against-montreal-bank-protesters. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Crown withdraws charges against Montreal bank protesters", https://mediabias.news/politics/crown-withdraws-charges-against-montreal-bank-protesters