On the morning of September 11, 2003, the skies over New York City were clear, reminiscent of the day two years prior when terrorists from al-Qaida hijacked planes and attacked the World Trade Center. On this second anniversary of the tragic event, the world came together in mourning. In Manhattan, approximately 200 children who lost parents and loved ones read the names of the 2,792 victims. Similar memorials took place globally, including in Canada. Despite ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, there were no significant protests reported. The only dissent came from terrorists who used the occasion to call for further violence against Western troops in Afghanistan.

In stark contrast, the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre revealed a divided response. While many in the free world mourned the victims and hostages, larger crowds gathered in Canada and worldwide to express support for violence. In Tel Aviv, around 30,000 people attended a memorial in Yarkon Park, marking the largest gathering since the attack. Vigils were also held across Canada, including a gathering in Victoria where hundreds commemorated the victims and prayed for the hostages. In Winnipeg, about 2,000 participants joined a “Walk for Israel” to show solidarity with Israelis. A Toronto synagogue hosted a ceremony attended by several local leaders, honoring the eight Canadians who died in the attack. At the University of Guelph, a small vigil organized by Jewish groups attracted around 150 attendees, including the mayor.

However, the atmosphere was markedly different on Montreal’s university campuses, where anti-Israel protests erupted. At Concordia University, two individuals were arrested for attempting to disrupt classes, one of whom was found with a metal bar and incendiary devices. In response to threats of a pro-terror rally, the university president decided to close the campus for the day. Despite this, thousands of protesters took to the streets and university grounds, chanting slogans and engaging in acts of vandalism. At McGill University, demonstrators burned an Israeli flag, broke a library window, and defaced property with red paint. Protesters shouted phrases like, "We are the revolution" and "Who are the terrorists? Imperialist states," while setting off flares that damaged local businesses.

One protest organizer claimed, "October 7 came to open the eyes of the world... to distinguish who are human, who are monsters," eliciting cheers from the crowd. Another speaker celebrated "two years of the resistance fighting for their honour against the criminal, genocidal Nazi entity so-called Israel," asserting that the day would be remembered until "the liberation of all of Palestine from the river to the sea," which includes the recognized borders of Israel.

Police focused on dispersing pro-Israel counter-demonstrations and monitoring the situation, but no arrests were reported throughout the day. Similar protests occurred in other cities, including Toronto, where four individuals were arrested for various offenses, including theft and vandalism.