"No Justice" in Gaza means "No Peace" in Toronto

Why are Taxpayers funding a 100 Officer protest escort when accused Rapists are walking free for lack of Court funding?

“No Justice, No Peace!” Or did the crowd chant “No Peace, No Justice”?

The Midtown section of Yonge Street was so devoid of cars that it seemed as though we’d been transported back to March 24, 2020.  Although I wouldn’t wish the depths of the Covid lockdown on anyone, at least Toronto residents didn’t have to listen to chants of “Viva, Viva Intifada” as we cautiously darted outside to satisfy our pet’s needs during that life-altering period in our lives.  (A CNN primer on what it means when our neighbours call for an “Intifada” can be found here.)  

If you’re wondering why Toronto’s Police budget is stretched these days, one can’t ignore the possibility that more than six months of “Pro-Palestinian” protest activity could be partly to blame.  I got a glimpse of the financial pinch as about 400 “Pro-Palestinian” activists “Shut Down” the Yonge and St. Clair intersection shortly after the noon hour last Sunday.

Traffic in this part of the city came to a standstill, TTC vehicles were redirected, and shoppers were driven away from local stores.  After 90 minutes, it must have become clear to the Organizers that their latest protest effort had not yet brought the War in Gaza to a halt.  Undaunted by the Israeli government’s apparent obliviousness, protest leaders then led their committed devotees on a slow march down Yonge Street, with TPS and Paramedic vehicles both leading and following along for hundreds of feet behind this latest unsanctioned (Ed. note: change to “illegal”) parade.  There was even a Court Services paddy wagon at the ready, in case shock journalist David Menzies showed up to ask some questions of those at this “family friendly” scene.

Over 100 police officers were deployed for their entire shift, requiring dozens of police vehicles of various kinds. Even the TPS Mounted Unit was in action, in case a few counter-protestors dared to tempt fate. In a city that’s seen a huge jump in organized crime activity, it’s hard to ignore the cost and unnecessary distraction of these ongoing crowd control operations.   

How many stolen cars might have been recovered (see prior post “There's an easy solution to the car-theft crisis. Too bad the Trudeau government isn't paying attention” Mar. 20-24) had those same 100 officers staked-out 20 different criminal hots spots the night before, rather than escorting lawbreakers down the world’s longest street? If that argument seems myopic, consider the perspective of Ontario women who’ve seen their accused attackers walk free because of staffing shortages elsewhere in our justice system.

Cait Alexander does not consider herself a victim of domestic violence, but rather, a victim of the Canadian justice system.

The criminal case for her ex-boyfriend, accused of trying to kill her in 2021, was rescheduled twice before it was ultimately dropped. She was granted a restraining order and sent on her way.

“I was told my attempted murder is not a priority,” Alexander told reporters at a press conference at Queen’s Park Thursday. “This means an extremely violent abuser is freed without a single consequence.” Standing at a podium, Alexander said she is not an anomaly, and that she has spoken to “countless women” who have suffered gender-based violence and had a case thrown out or resolved with a peace bond.

“These governments are not tough on crime,” she said. “The system needs immediate reform. Canadians are not safe when the laws only impact the victim.” 

For victims, there is little recourse once the time lapses on a criminal case.

Emily Ager’s sexual assault case was tossed out in November 2023, after having already testified in court.

“I was raped 789 days ago,” Ager said Thursday.

“The Jordan decision set a precedent that allowed for a maximum of 540 days for this rapist to have his trial heard and ruled upon. It has now been 147 days since the charges were stayed due to his right to a speedy trial.”

I’m all for respectful public protest, but it’s inexplicable that TPS didn’t require that the crowd use the wide sidewalks as they made their way south, rather than expand their illegal “Shut Down” of a key city artery as the rest of we taxpayers are trying to do errands on a sunny Sunday. If that’s now the rule for similar protests in Houston, Texas, for example, you have to wonder why TPS puts the needs of the few ahead of the rights of the rest of us. (Do they appreciate that someone might soon be tempted to block the adjacent bike lane, holding a “#FreeYongeSt” banner?)

As the protest march hit Summerhill, it came across a few nimble flag bearers who had scaled the CN Rail bridge earlier in the day.  This busy rail overpass operates 24 hours a day, moving commerce across Canada.  Despite the fact that two teens were recently killed on a similar Toronto rail corridor, TPS showed no interest in clearing these scofflaws.

Perhaps CN had been advised to halt their freight trains for the balance of the afternoon, so as to not put the protestors and camera crews at risk.  If you were expecting a new car or a container of Canadian Tire inventory to be delivered later in the week, it may well have been delayed in the name of “Freeing Palestine.” A small price to pay in the name of Free Speech, I suppose, but if TPS are going to arrest Mr. Menzies for asking questions, the silent majority can’t help but notice.

Last November, I shared my concern that “these local images and incendiary speeches [will be] irreversibly ingrained for all-time in the minds of Canadian-born kids. It won’t help your cause…” (see prior post “Talking past each other” Nov. 7-23.) Many of the hostages taken on October 7th remain in what may well be unbearable captivity, elements of Hamas are still at large, and the war continues anon. None of which will change in the event these “Pro Palestinian” protestors shut down Toronto streets every weekend for the rest of the year. I have to assume that these crowds know this to be true, leaving us to question the true goal of these regular marches.

In the meantime, scarce financial resources are being siphoned away from adjudicating alleged crimes that Canadians can have an impact on. Just ask Emily Ager and Cait Alexander.

MRM

(this post, like all blogs, is an Opinion Piece)