April 7, 2024 | by Barry Weisleder
Over 2,500 people rallied and marched in Toronto on April 6 to mark Al Quds (Jerusalem) Day. In the wake of widespread complaints about police brutality at a pro-Palestinian march a week earlier in the city, the cop presence on this Saturday afternoon was considerably reduced.
Socialist Action members participated in the annual event with flags and a large banner, distributed hundreds of leaflets promoting International Workers’ Day and an SA statement highlighting the demand for a Democratic and Secular Palestine, and sold over 150 buttons bearing the slogan “End the Occupation – Free Palestine.”
The demonstration, which occurred on a mild Spring day in bright sunshine, began and ended on University Avenue across from the U.S. Consulate. The parade route included a stop at Toronto Police headquarters at College and Bay streets. There speakers denounced the call of top cop Myron Demkiw that Mayor Olivia Chow demand withdrawal of an open letter issued by six city councilors who defended freedom of speech and assembly and criticized “kettling” (confinement in a small area) and violent tactics employed by the cops against pro-Palestinians. So far, the letter stands. The mayor’s office is mute on the subject, after granting a $20 million dollar increase in the mid-February city budget as demanded by the TPS.
