The Toronto Police have closed off the Avenue Road overpass across Highway 401 multiple times now due to concerns over pro-Palestinian protests in the area. On New Year’s Day, they made the decision to do so once again. This time, they cited safety concerns as the reason behind their actions. They warned that there would be no access to Avenue Road from the highway. The Toronto Police Service took to social media to inform the public of these developments, and also to assure everyone that they were working to keep demonstrators, counter-demonstrators, and passing traffic safe. They indicated that updates on reopening details would be provided later.
The weekend prior, a similar protest related to the war in Gaza had led to the shutdown of the Avenue Road overpass. During this protest, a prayer session took place just before noon on December 30, 2023. As tensions grew, Canadian politicians began expressing concern over the targeting of Jews who lived in the area. These politicians, including Liberal MP Marco Mendicino and Ontario’s solicitor general Michael Karzner, were adamant that everyone, regardless of their beliefs, had the right to be safe and protected in their communities.
The involvement of these high-profile individuals underlines the serious and concerning nature of what’s unfolding in Toronto. It’s both an issue of national security and fundamental human rights. Amidst these events, comments disparaging the local Jewish community were made, leading to an outcry of condemnation from politicians, community leaders, and activists who work to promote Holocaust awareness and protect these vulnerable communities.
However, these protests and targeting of Jewish communities are part of a broader pattern of anti-Semitic incidents that have occurred across Canada. Before the pandemic and before the war in Gaza, hate crimes have risen sharply in Toronto. The Toronto Police Service reported that between October 7 and December 17, 2023, there were 98 hate crime occurrences reported in the city, compared to 48 in the same period the year before. Among these, 56 were reported as anti-Semitic hate crimes, comprising 53 percent of all hate crimes during this period. The rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes has been a cause for significant concern and calls for immediate action to address the situation. On the other hand, Jewish communities are not the only ones targeted; there have been several instances of attacks against the Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab communities as well.
The situation is complex and fraught with serious consequences. It is a stark reminder that as we grieve and attempt to heal from catastrophic events happening across the world, there’s a need for unity, understanding, and compassion among citizens, regardless of their background. It is our right to feel safe and secure, and it is the duty of our leaders to ensure that this is maintained.