The Ford government is seeking a last-minute injunction to block a demonstration relating to the conflict in the Middle East, which is set to be held in downtown Toronto on Saturday.
The annual Al-Quds Day protest is scheduled to take place outside the United States consulate. It is held on the last Friday of Ramadan and described by organizers as “a global day against imperialist and Zionist war and aggression.”
Toronto police have already moved to restrict airspace above the demonstration and planned to send specialist officers to the scene to ” help reduce tensions.”
Now, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has instructed his Attorney General, Doug Downey, to file an injunction to have the protest banned altogether.
“This demonstration is nothing more than a breeding ground for hate and antisemitism,” the premier alleged in a video. “It glorifies violence; it celebrates terrorism. It has no place in Ontario, it has no place in Canada.”
Global News contacted the organizers, but did not hear back ahead of publication.
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In the caption to a recent video posted on their Instagram page, backers described the event as a day of protest around the world.
“Every year in commemoration of Al-Quds Day, people around the globe pour into the streets to stand for justice in support of Palestinians and all oppressed people,” they wrote.
“It is a global day against imperialist and Zionist war and aggression – a day of solidarity and unity for Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, and beyond – uplifting the peoples’ right to liberation, sovereignty, and self-determination.”
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association said it was “deeply troubled” by the government’s move.
“Pre-emptively shutting down an entire protest that has not even started, though, is a sweeping attack on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly – two pillars of a free and democratic society,” the group wrote in a statement.
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“While freedom of expression is not absolute, dissenting expression and unpopular speech are protected by the Charter. It is not up to the state to be the arbiter of what is and isn’t acceptable protest speech – especially not pre-emptively.”
The demonstration is currently planned to begin on Saturday afternoon, and the provincial government hopes to have its injunction request heard as early as Friday evening.
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve been disgusted and appalled by the hatred and violence taking place in our country,” Ford said.
“We’ve seen synagogues and consulates shot at, we’ve seen entire communities targeted and intimidated, and just yesterday, right across the border, we’ve seen a hatred few of us can even imagine.”
instead of complaining about what’s happing to there people over in another country, I think they should go back to there country and protest there, Oh that’s right, there cowards to do so
Hey Roy.. go back and hug those terrorist Palestinians you pig
Canada has free speech. Let them say what they want as long as it stays lawful and non-violent!
Good. Shut it down.
The Israelies and US are attacking Iran simply because they do not like the present leadership. While one can dislike the leader, and their policies, they are not that different from Trump abducting a foreign leader, or Trudeau locking peoples bank accounts.
Why is Ford deciding on cancelling the event that would show support for the victims? why is he linking anti-Israel to anti-semitism. If the Jews of Canada would publicly split with Israel’s actions, they would be treated better. They back the Genocide, and illegal attacks…
The radical left and terrorist wannabes won’t be happy
Hey Freedom, go f*ck yourself. What a disgusting thing to say! And the frigging AI censorship bot lets it go. Oh well I can talk all day about my c*ck fantasies and how many I can shove up my love hole. Never mind. Lest all be racist pr*cks! Should be a fun time!!
Good article
The world is made infinitely better with Jewish peoples but Zionism is a hateful and virulent supremacist ideology
You reap what you sow. The result of unbridled and unchecked immigration policies, flinging the doors open to those seeking the safe haven of Canada, with no interest in becoming Canadian or embracing Canadian values.
Palestine needs to be leveled once and for all
How many of those “incidents” are perpetrated by the same people claiming to be victims? Yeh……they’re always going to lie to make themselves look like victims.