Stop laying blame, start protecting community from hate, groups urge

OTTAWA — Enough of the blame game.

In response to a letter sent Thursday to Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner from Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll — which itself was a response to a letter Kerzner sent to the pair late last year demanding action on Toronto’s escalating anti-Israel protests — B’nai Brith Canada CEO Simon Wolle said none of that makes life any safer for Toronto’s Jews.

“The focus must not be on laying blame; it must be on guaranteeing the security of the Jewish community and ensuring that all residents of Toronto are afforded the safe and inclusive city they are entitled to,” Wolle told the Toronto Sun.

“We are grateful for the work done by law enforcement since Oct. 7, but the hate and incitement that continue to flourish on our streets, and the continued targeting of Jewish infrastructure indicate that there is still more work that needs to be done.”

Cops, politicians need to work together: Landau

In his Dec. 30 letter, Kerzner urged Demkiw and Carroll to use the tools made available by the province to quell the increasingly hateful protests.

In response, Demkiw said his investigators are growing increasingly frustrated with the charges they do lay frequently being dropped by the Crown before they’re tested in court.

“It is deeply frustrating for the Service and its members, who have been on these front lines, to continue to face criticism even while operating within the law and legal parameters established through ongoing consultation with, and the advice provided by, provincial Crown Attorneys,” Demkiw and Carroll wrote in their letter. 

Anti-Israel activists embarked on a campaign of harassment and intimidation almost immediately after the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, even before Israel began its campaign of self-defence against Hamas terrorists, largely consisting of frequent demonstrations and protests.

TPS say they’ve made over 460 arrests and laid over 1,000 charges in connection with anti-Israel protests.

Josh Landau of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) urged elected officials at all levels to work with law enforcement to ensure communities are kept safe.

“For many residents — especially those who have experienced repeated marches, disruptions, and targeted intimidation — there are real fears and uncertainty about whether they can safely go about their daily lives,” he said.

“CIJA has consistently said that this behaviour has crossed from geopolitical expression into targeted intimidation and disruption of community life.”

In their letter Thursday to Kerzner and Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey, CIJA called for coordinated action and consistent standards to ensure neighbourhoods, businesses, schools, and community spaces are protected.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com

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