Police pushed the crowd off the sidewalk into active traffic on Parliament St., pepper sprayed liberally, punched or elbowed multiple women in the face, tackled and arrested someone they had pushed into another officer and more.
Those who were outside Toronto Polices Services (TPS) 51 Division on Sept. 11 describe a scene of complete chaos and mayhem after police started pushing the crowd onto the road, then pepper spraying, punching and tackling them. Several demonstrators had to go to the hospital after.
Police report two people were charged for incidents there and one person was charged at an earlier related protest a few blocks away at Meridian Hall, all for allegedly assaulting officers. Demonstrators note that four others were arrested but not charged with anything. Police say two officers had minor injuries.
The original protest was in opposition to a fundraising event for the United Jewish Appeal – Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), which provides funds to a number of activities, including the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), which is its “advocacy agent.”
The fundraiser featured staunchly pro-Israel speakers and performers. These included an active soldier in the Israeli Defence Forces, pro-Israel American columnist Bari Weiss, who has loudly opposed gender-affirming medical care for trans people, a staff member at the U.S.-based pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League, and an Israeli actor.
No speakers critical of Israel or denouncing its war on Gaza, which has killed over 41,000 Palestinians, were on the program.
According to Nadine Shurafa with Occupy UofT for Palestine, members of several groups came together to oppose the “platforming [of] individuals notorious for their roles in supporting Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, spreading anti-Palestinian hate, and stoking anti-trans sentiment.”
Several members of the anti-Zionist Jews Say No to Genocide (JSNTG) coalition, who do not feel represented by the UJA’s positions on Israel, gathered outside Meridian Hall before the event, with others. A group of around a dozen people, with heavy representation from JSNTG, went inside and sat down in the box office lobby, unfurling banners and posters, linking arms, and making speeches.
Private security and police told them they were trespassing, and then police dragged them out by their arms and legs along the driveway to the sidewalk. (more...)
Toronto Police “Caused a Riot” Outside 51 Division After Pro-Palestinian Protest of UJA Event
A minute leading up to them kettling me, grabbing me, and then punching me to the ground. You can see all I did was try to record. pic.twitter.com/QoqeBQSFR4
— mimi 🇵🇸 (@ywabeb) September 12, 2024
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