Toronto/CMEDIA: The Ontario government will reportedly move forward to file an injunction at noon, Saturday in an effort to stop the planned Al-Quds Day rally in downtown Toronto from moving ahead.
The legal move was confirmed on the morning of the demonstration by a spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford.
Ford saidFriday that the annual demonstration, which is expected to begin at 3 p.m., should not be allowed to proceed.
“This demonstration is nothing more than a breeding ground for hate and antisemitism. It glorifies violence. It celebrates terrorism. It has no place in Ontario. It has no place in Canada,” Ford said in a video posted to social media.
“If we don’t act now, if we don’t act decisively, the hatred won’t stop. Our government has a responsibility to do everything we can to protect our communities and put an end to the hate that we see in our province and country,” said Ford.
Ford also said he expects police to intervene if there are signs of hate, violence or the glorification of terrorist organizations.
“I believe deeply in our fundamental freedom of speech. But nobody in this province has the right to incite violence, and no one has a free license to hate. We won’t stand for it.”
Lawyers representing the rally organizers said Friday they believe the province will not succeed in obtaining an injunction.
Stephen Ellis, legal counsel for the organizers maintained the demonstration will remain peaceful.
“This demonstration takes place every year, and what it’s about is that it’s a commemoration of the Palestinian struggle for their freedom. It happens all over the world on the last weekend of Ramadan, and people from all walks of life get together and demonstrate for their freedom,” Ellis said.
Held annually in cities around the world Al-Quds Day began in Iran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Rights group ‘deeply concerned’ about provincial action
“The Premier does not need a court injunction to enforce the law. If there are credible threats, acts of violence, intimidation, criminal harassment, property damage, or any other unlawful conduct, police already have broad powers under the Criminal Code to respond. Those laws exist precisely to protect public safety, and they can and should be enforced where necessary, including at protests,” Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), said in a statement Friday that the organization is “deeply concerned” that the premier is seeking an injunction.
“We hope the court will carefully consider the significant risks to community safety when making its decision,” CIJA said in a statement Friday.
“While peaceful protest is a right in Canada, the glorification of terrorist organizations, the spread of extremist ideology, and the incitement of violence have no place in our communities. Amidst rising threats and violence, every level of government must use every tool available to ensure the safety of residents.”
While denouncing the rally as antisemitic, Jewish advocacy groups have repeatedly called on officials to prevent it from taking place.
Toronto police say they are preparing for the demonstration regardless of the legal challenge.
On Thursday, Supt. Craig Young said officers would activate a “major incident command centre” and deploy additional resources around the U.S. Consulate, where demonstrators are expected to gather.
‘The law will be enforced swiftly and decisively’: Toronto police share plan for Al-Quds rally
“We have stepped up our resources around the United States Consulate. We do have a specific plan in place for Saturday to protect the U.S. Consulate, and I will leave it at that for now,” Young said.
With their focus on maintaining public order, Police have also said both demonstrators and counter-protesters exercise their rights.
