An Al-Quds Day rally took to the streets near the U. S. consulate in Toronto Saturday, after an Ontario Superior Court justice ruled that the demonstration could continue as planned.
Attendee Stephen Ellis, who is also a lawyer for rally organizers, said everyone is “very happy” that the injunction was dismissed, but the morning was filled with “fear-mongering” and “desperation.”
“We were confident it wasn’t going to succeed. It’s absurd that they would abrogate our rights,” he said. “The attempt for the injunction was a politically motivated attack on our rights and so we were happy to vindicate those rights today.”
“We live in a period of intense crisis all over the world,” Ellis added. “We have to build a better world and that’s more important now than ever before.”
The justice’s decision comes after two Toronto city councillors and Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for an injunction to prevent the rally from happening.
In a post to social media Friday, Ford asked the attorney general to act and called the demonstration a “breeding ground for hate and antisemitism.”
A superior court hearing was held at noon Saturday with lawyers representing the attorney general and the Al-Quds Day committee. The justice said he would share more details on his decision later in the day.
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Toronto police said Thursday they planned to increase their presence in the area of the rally. (Mercedes Gaztambide/CBC)
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In apostto socialmedia Saturdayafternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Fordsaidhewas”extremelydisappointed”withthecourt’sdecision.(Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Torontopolicesaid Thursdaytheyplannedtoincreasetheirpresenceintheareaof Al-Quds Dayrally.
Theysaidapproximately3,000peoplewereanticipatedtoattend, butthatnumbercouldbehighergivenrecenttensionsinthe Middle Eastandlocalcommunities. Inastatement Saturdayevening, Torontopolicesaidapproximately4,500peopleattendedthedemonstrationsdowntown.
Inaposttosocialmedia Saturday, Torontopolicesaidtwoarrestswere madeatademonstrationintheareaof University Avenueand Armoury Street. Torontopolicedidnotdisclosewhichrallythosearrestedwereconnectedtoandsaidmoreinformationwouldbereleasedbywayofanewsreleaseatalater time.
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Acounter-protestalsotookplaceoutsidethe U. S. Consolatein Toronto Saturday.(Mercedes Gaztambide/CBC)
Meanwhile, the Centrefor Israeland Jewish Affairsapplaudedtheprovince’smoveforaninjunction Friday, sayingtherallyis”a platformforextremistrhetoric, antisemiticconspiracytheories, and supportforterroristorganizations.”
Al-Quds, takenfromthe Arabicwordfor Jerusalem, habeenamagnetforcontroversyinpartbecauseitwaspopularizedin Iranafterthe1979revolution. Theeventisheldtypicallyonthelast Fridayof Ramadan.
Oneof Ford’sfirstpromisesaspremierin2018wasanoutrightbanontheprotest.
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Ford ‘extremely disappointed’ with court’s decision
Al-Quds Day has been described by Toronto organizers as a show of support for Palestine. Social media posts promoting the event say demonstrators will also be calling for “no war in Iran and Lebanon.” In a post to social media Saturday afternoon, Ford said he was “extremely disappointed” with the court’s decision. “While the judge cited Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when we talk about rights we need to be clear that every person has the right to safety and security,” he said. “We need to be clear that no one in Canada has the right to incite violence or free licence to intimidate and hate.” The premier added the event has long been “a venue for antisemitism, hatred, intimidation and the glorification of terrorism.” “I won’t stop working to put an end to the hatred and division that runs too rampant on Canada’s streets,” Ford said. “I won’t stop working to protect the greatest province in the greatest country in the world.” A counter-protest also took place outside the U. S. Consulate in Toronto Saturday. Organizer Salman Simr said it’s “disgusting” that the Al-Quds Day rally is defending the Iranian regime and believes that Ford could’ve done more to stop it from happening. “It was a political show by Ford,” he said. “He doesn’t need any court order. He’s a premier and he has a duty, he has power and full authority to implement the law.” “If Ford, [Prime Minister] Mark Carney, Toronto police, [Toronto] Mayor [Olivia] Chow, they don’t want to do their job, wethe people.. havethe dutyto stand,” he added.3synagogues, U. S. consulateshotatpast2weeks
Ford’sinjunctionbidcamefollowingheighteneduneasein Greater Toronto Areaaftershotswerefiredatthreesynagoguesandthe U. S. consulatein past twoweeks. Civillibertygroupshavecalledtheprovince’smoveanextraordinaryanddangerous steptocurtailrightstofreeexpressionandpeacefulassembly.This year, the Britishgovernment, basedonrequestfrompolice, banned Al-Qud s Daymarchin London.
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