Toronto Police Ready for Weekend of Protests
Today, Toronto Police Chief James Ramer and Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke about the city’s approach to protests taking place this weekend, including the Al Quds Day rally that has included vicious antisemitism in the past.
Jewish community worried about calls for violence at
Al Quds Day rally
Toronto, ON – Today, Toronto Police Chief James Ramer and Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke about the city’s approach to protests taking place this weekend, including the Al Quds Day rally that has included vicious antisemitism in the past.
“We are grateful to Chief Ramer and Mayor Tory for responding to community concerns and articulating zero tolerance for intimidation, harassment, and hate in Toronto,” said Noah Shack, Vice President, GTA, at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “We appreciate the preparation underway to monitor and address any criminal behaviour at the upcoming Al Quds Day protest. The deployment of the TPS hate crime unit, cameras, and other resources to gather evidence of any hate crime that could take place is crucial for holding accountable those who cross the line from peaceful protest to criminal behaviour.”
In Canada, in past years, Al-Quds rallies have included incitement to violence, calls for Israel’s destruction, the promotion of anti-Israel and antisemitic conspiracy theories, and the display of symbols associated with terrorist groups banned in Canada. This year’s protest follows a demonstration in Toronto last weekend, which praised deadly terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and called for more violence.
“After yesterday’s Yom HaShoah Holocaust commemoration, the Jewish community turns with deep concern to more hate on the horizon. Toronto Police figures released this week confirm once again that Jews are the city’s most frequent target of reported hate crime, and with antisemitism on the rise around the world, we are grateful to have the support of Chief Ramer and Mayor Tory,” said Shack. We know most Torontonians find these expressions of hate as abhorrent as we do, and that’s why this remains one of the greatest cities in the world in which to be Jewish.”
CIJA is working with law enforcement and the local Jewish community security services to ensure the community is safe and secure. We encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences a hate crime to report it to the police immediately.
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