Baber urges Chow, police to halt protests near Jewish neighbourhood

Conservative MP Roman Baber is demanding Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Police Chief Myron Demkiw immediately shut down weekly anti-Israel protests near Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue.

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Conservative MP Roman Baber is demanding Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Police Chief Myron Demkiw immediately shut down weekly anti-Israel protests near Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue, warning the city’s Jewish community is now living in fear.

Conservative MP Roman Baber is urging Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw to halt anti-Israel protests near a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood, arguing they have crossed the line from lawful demonstration into intimidation and criminal behaviour.

In a letter dated December 19, Baber wrote, “The weekly Sunday protests at the northeast corner of Bathurst & Sheppard are meant to intimidate and antagonize local residents. They are not peaceful protests since they include threats and disturb the peace in a residential neighbourhood.”

“Such conduct is not protected by the Charter and we demand that you end the Sunday protests at Bathurst & Sheppard,” he added.

The MP said he was speaking on behalf of his 17,000 Jewish constituents, as well as 100,000 Jewish Torontonians.

“Incursions into predominately Jewish neighbourhoods, including the march on Sheppard Ave West, instill fear and intimidation. They deprive local residents and businesses of enjoyment of property. At the very least, they amount to Mischief under the Criminal Code,” Baber wrote.

Anti-Israel activists recently gathered to protest Jewish Canadians lighting a menorah for Hanukkah at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue. The exchange came just hours after an ISIS-affiliated terrorist murdered at least 15 people in Australia at a menorah lighting event.

Baber was at the recent exchange in North York and confronted the protesters. He said they were “threatening him in real time,” and that the menorah would be lit for another “2000 years.”

Baber also wrote about specific actions taken by the pro-Hamas protesters.

“Finally, the call to Intifada (a violent revolt) and ‘resistance by any means’ are incitement to violence. I draw your attention to the UK, where police now arrest those who chant in support of Intifada. Incitement to violence is incitement to violence in any language. It is a criminal offence,” he wrote.

The pro-Hamas protesters also often chant “From the River to the Sea,” such as when they descended on Jewish community members during Toronto’s Walk with Israel. The American Jewish Committee defines the phrase as “a phrase that can be used to call for the elimination of the State of Israel and/or ethnic cleansing of Jews living there, to be replaced with Palestinian control over the entire territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.”

Baber said it was time for Chow and Demkiw to apply the law.

“All we ask is for equal application of the Rule of Law. Stop pointing fingers and protect Toronto’s Jewish community before a catastrophe ensues,” he concluded.