Toronto police say there will be a heightened presence in the center this weekend as more than a dozen protests take place, including a pro-Palestinian rally that has been the scene of clashes between protesters in the past.
Police Chief James Rammer held a press conference Friday morning to discuss operational planning for the protests this weekend.
He said some members of the public had expressed concern in recent days about an Al Quds Day protest scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the city center, in particular reassessing “the potential for hate speech as well as the potential for confrontation between participants and those who oppose the event. “
“I think we can all agree that there is no room for that,” Ramer said. “I want to assure those who have these concerns that, like all demonstrations, the Toronto Police Department will be present visibly and actively monitor these events. As always, we respect human rights and will promote legal and peaceful protest. What we will not tolerate is civil disobedience and violence or hate behavior that crosses the border into crime. “
Members of the Jewish community have expressed concern about anti-Semitic remarks during past protests on Al Quds Day and called on the city to prevent the rally.
Ramer said that given the concerns, police are taking several steps to ensure the event remains peaceful, including putting members of the Hate Crimes Unit in place so they can immediately investigate any “any suspected hate crime or hate speech or signs’.
He said the service would also include officers who speak different languages in the crowd, “so they can record first-hand what is said in the crowd and in speeches.”
Finally, police will also install an additional camera near the planned side of the protest outside the University Avenue courthouse to help with any investigations that may arise from the protest.
“The charter allows for freedom of expression and the ability to demonstrate, and so we will facilitate these events. However, you know, we are seeing this and freedom of expression is really limited, “Ramer said. “We will record everything that happens and if there is something that is determined to cross the border of crime, we will continue with regard to prosecution.
The prime minister spoke out against the Al Quds Day rally in the past
Prime Minister Doug Ford has promised in 2018 to “take action to ensure that events such as Al Quds Day, which calls for the killing of all Israeli civilians, are no longer part of the Ontario landscape.”
The protest did not take place in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is expected to return to the streets this weekend.
In a statement issued Friday, Toronto Mayor John Torrey said he hoped all demonstrations this weekend, including the Al Quds rally, were “hate-free, violence-free, discrimination-free and harassing-free.”
But he said that if not, the police would have his “full support” to do what is necessary to hold accountable those involved in hate behavior.
“As we know, hate crimes are on the rise across North America, including Toronto. We see a pitiful increase in hate crimes against all communities. The Toronto Hate Crimes Report shows that the Jewish community in Toronto is the most focused group, “he said. “As a city and as a city, we must do everything we can to fight anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, and this includes our duty to protect the sanctity of public spaces to ensure that everyone feels safe everywhere in Toronto. .
Police say there will be a total of 14 protests of various sizes in the city center this weekend, including the Al Quds event.
They say movable and static road closures could be introduced to meet the protests, and that anyone heading to the center should be prepared to face some delays in moving.
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