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October 22, 2016

Woman throws pumpkin seeds at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to protest pipelines

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and RCMP security handle a man who was getting in the face of Trudeau after he toured Picone

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and RCMP security handle a man who was getting in the face of Trudeau after he toured Picone's Fine Foods in Dundas, Ont., on Friday, October 21, 2016. The issue was settled and no one was arrested.

Justin Trudeau, known for the smooth way he connects with crowds by shaking hands, holding babies and taking selfies, had a bizarre run-in with the public in the Hamilton area Friday.

A meeting with Hamilton’s mayor included a side trip into council chambers and a surprise shower of pumpkin seeds from a scolding protester.

The incident happened soon after Trudeau stepped through a side door into city hall council chambers to chat with councillors, several of whom whipped out camera phones for the now ubiquitous Trudeau selfie photos.

Security guard grabs protester Ute Schmid Jones who threw pumpkin seeds with hearts drawn on them at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, yelling

John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator

Security guard grabs protester Ute Schmid Jones who threw pumpkin seeds with hearts drawn on them at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, yelling 'Keep your promises!'

Past Green Party of __canada candidate Ute Schmid-Jones hurled “symbolic” heart-inscribed pumpkin seeds at him, shouting, “Keep your promises!”

She was immediately tackled to the ground by security before being whisked away by the RCMP for questioning. She was not charged, but is now banned from Hamilton City Hall.

Earlier, she had been holding a banner reading “No New Pipelines” with a man who identified himself as David Johnson. He says they want to know why Trudeau has “not yet reformed the National Energy Board or shut down their proceedings.”

Schmid-Jones says although she is banned from city hall property, she doesn’t regret her actions. “I think it was necessary,” she said. “I’ve tried so many other means to try and speak about these issues with our political leaders … I thought maybe a symbol would get the point across.”

Trudeau also had an interaction with a man in Dundas, Ont., after touring a food shop, which drew the attention of RCMP security. The incident was quickly settled.

With files from the Hamilton Spectator and The Canadian Press

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