Expect to see a lot of cops this weekend and probably a lot of brake lights in congested traffic, with a huge 14 different protests taking place in the heart of the city, all in two days.
Toronto Police Chief James Ramer briefed the public at a news conference Friday morning, warning of traffic disruptions and a heightened police presence at the center over the weekend.
“The public will notice an increased police presence in and around the demonstration areas, and we will apply both mobile and static road closures to safely divert people and traffic,” Ramer said.
“As long as you are encouraged to do business, we ask for your patience and will work to safely manage large quantities of cars and people throughout the city.”
But while more than a dozen different demonstrations are planned this weekend, Ramer devoted most of his press conference to discussing a specific event out of the many that will take place in the coming days.
Among the demonstrations planned for this weekend, the Al Quds Day protest, scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the city center, was the subject of concerns about anti-Semitism and hate speech, and with counter-protests potential for confrontation, an increased police presence is expected.
“While the Toronto Police Department will always support peaceful demonstrations, I want to be very clear that we will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment or behavior motivated by hatred directed at specific communities,” Ramer said.
Quds Day, an annual event in support of Palestine and in opposition to Israel, has not been held in Toronto in recent years due to the pandemic, but previous events have drawn criticism from politicians, including Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford, who called for the event to be banned in 2018
Supporters of the event, which was set up by the Iranian state shortly after its 1979 revolution, saw it as a public demonstration of opposition to what many in the Muslim world see as the occupation of Palestine. The event is seen by some in the Jewish community as a manifestation of anti-Semitism.
“We have received several complaints that hate speech has been overheard in recent events. I think we can all agree that there is no room for that. I want to assure those who have these fears that, like all demonstrations, the Toronto Police Department will be visibly present and actively monitor these events, “Ramer said.
Ramer said that “in addition to the apparent presence of a front-line officer, we will also have officers from our special hate crime unit on site so that we can immediately gather evidence to investigate any suspected hate or speech crimes.” out of hatred or signs, the service will incorporate officials who speak different languages so that they can record first-hand what is said in crowds and in speeches. “
This is a dangerously complex question that no one expects to answer in a short article on local media trafficking, but offers an idea of the kind of delicate political and ethnic tensions that Toronto cops will do their best to spread the weekend.
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