Below are excerpts from a Toronto Star report on the events that followed the police arrest of a member of the crowd. Until that moment, the gathering was entirely peaceful, with hundreds chanting “Ceasefire Now!”, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free”, and “Lift the Siege of Gaza”, among other slogans.
Socialist Action joined thousands at Toronto Police 52 Division station to demand that the arrested person be released, which did occur later. Before and during the rally there, participants purchased over a hundred “End the Occupation – Free Palestine” buttons, and snapped up copies of The Red Review and the SA statement on Palestine.
Protester at pro-Palestine rally in Toronto arrested for allegedly assaulting police officer. By Ben Cohen Staff Reporter Joshua Chong Staff Reporter
Thousands of protesters from two separate rallies converged on 52 Division in downtown Toronto to demand the man’s release on Sunday afternoon.
A pro-Palestinian rally gathered at Yonge-Dundas Square and moved to Toronto Police 52 division after a protester was arrested in Toronto on Sunday.
An altercation broke out between a protester and police at a pro-Palestinian rally Sunday afternoon outside the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, leading to an arrest. Afterwards, thousands of protesters from two separate rallies converged on 52 Division at University Ave. and Dundas St. to demand his immediate release.
The Star observed a police officer on foot appearing to use his bicycle to ram the bicycle of a woman standing in front of him. It was not clear what instigated the action. The woman, who was holding her bicycle, fell over as the bike toppled.
A man ran up after and shoved an officer to the ground in retaliation. Police then tackled, beat and arrested him.
In a news release Sunday evening, police said the man was charged with both assaulting and obstructing a police officer, criminal offenses punishable by up to five years and two years in prison, respectively.
The arrest triggered an uproar from the crowd of several hundred protesters who surrounded the dozens of police officers and screamed for the man’s release.
Gur Tsabar, one of the rally organizers, told the Star the man is undergoing a medical assessment. Tsabar also said he has been provided legal support.
The protest outside the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue, organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, was one of two simultaneous pro-Palestinian rallies Sunday afternoon.
A separate event, which drew more than a thousand attendees, was held at Yonge-Dundas Square and organized by Toronto4Palestine.
The two protests, which the Star was told were kept separate due to minor ideological and operational differences between organizers, converged after the arrest at 52 Division in a crowd several thousand strong.
For about four hours, protesters outside the station stood opposite a thick line of several dozen police officers. Protesters held up banners and shouted into microphones demanding that law enforcement release the suspect. They also passed around pizza slices and water bottles.
“Shame on you savages,” shouted one protester at police. “How can we expect you to keep our communities safe? Disgusting behaviour. We demand consequences.”
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., protest organizers announced the suspect had been released from police custody. Organizers told the Star the arrested man had been freed about 30 minutes prior. Protesters dispersed shortly afterwards.
Pro-Palestinian protesters already had frayed relations with police before this.
Right before the skirmish Sunday, a PYM organizer instructed the crowd to be wary of police. He said if any of them needed help for any reason they were not to ask police. Instead, they should approach one of the organizer’s safety volunteers wearing hi-vis vests.
