Jewish Leaders Demand Police Action After Antisemitic Propaganda at Weekly Protest

Toronto, ON – March 16, 2026 – Jewish leaders from three major community organizations have sent a letter to Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw condemning the antisemitic rhetoric and imagery displayed at a protest held at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue on March 15, 2026, and calling for immediate enforcement of Canada’s hate laws. They have issued the following statement:

“This weekend, extremist protestors in Toronto openly threatened violence, glorified terrorism, and displayed imagery portraying Jewish people as sub-human—echoing the incitement of the Nazi era. These acts are not abstract; they are a direct assault on the safety and dignity of our communities and the values Canada claims to uphold in its public square.

“As of today, no arrests have been made. This lack of enforcement sends a dangerous signal: that de-escalation may take priority over upholding the law. Jewish communities are left asking a stark question: if depictions of Jews as vermin and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state do not meet the threshold for Canada’s hate propaganda laws, what does?

“Globally, law enforcement is recognizing the dangers of inaction. Following the Manchester synagogue attacks in the UK, authorities moved from passive crowd management to proactive enforcement of incitement laws. Here in Toronto, police officers are trained to identify and respond to antisemitism and hate-motivated incidents—but this training appears not to have informed an immediate response to the egregious symbols and rhetoric displayed this weekend.

“Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Centa recently emphasized that public security depends on enforcing existing criminal laws. Yet, synagogues are being targeted by gunfire, and extremist mobs march through Jewish neighborhoods while the status quo persists. This is not just unacceptable—it is a growing threat to innocent life.

“We demand that the Toronto Police Service take immediate, decisive action to protect our communities and enforce the law against hate and incitement. Our city’s safety depends on it.”

QUOTES

Michelle Stock, Vice President – Ontario, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)

“The imagery and threats displayed this weekend are not protest—they are hate. They are designed to terrorize our community and normalize violence against Jewish people. We have laws on the books for a reason. Every day that these acts go unpunished, every image left unchecked, sends a clear message: hatred is tolerated. That is unacceptable, and Toronto Police must act now to enforce the law and protect our community.”

Richard Roberston, Director of Research and Advocacy, B’nai Brith Canada

“The display of antisemitic posters at a public protest is not a form of peaceful assembly. It is a crime. It must be investigated as such. If warranted, charges must be laid. There must be a zero tolerance for the wilful promotion and incitement of hatred. When protests incite and promote hate, they must be shut down.”

Sara Lefton, Chief Development Officer, United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto (UJA)

“With three synagogues being shot at over the span of one week, we are witnessing firsthand how hateful words and images directed at the Jewish community, such as those displayed on Sunday, have turned into hateful acts of violence. This is predictable and what we have been warning of for years. We need the police to step up right now and start charging these people with incitement of hatred, which is clearly defined in Canada’s Criminal Code.”

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