Politicians, activists cry “hate” before facts confirmed in Oshawa swarming attack
A violent swarming incident involving 10 female youth at a Pizza Pizza in Oshawa has led to “islamophobia” allegations from left-wing politicians and a Muslim activist group.
A violent swarming incident involving 10 female youth at a Pizza Pizza in Oshawa has led to “Islamophobia” allegations from left-wing politicians and a Muslim activist group.
The Durham Regional Police Service is investigating after a group of young-looking black girls allegedly attempted to steal from a Pizza Pizza at Wentworth Street West in Oshawa and assaulted the shop owner after she tried to defend her property.
“It was reported that a group of individuals, who appear to be young people, had been creating a disturbance at the location. One of the individuals jumped behind the counter and attempted to take an item,” DRPS said in a statement. “That suspect was confronted by the victim, and a violent struggle ensued. During that struggle, several other individuals also jumped behind the counter, swarmed and assaulted the victim.”
A security cam video circulating on Facebook showed one attacker grabbing onto the owner’s hijab, holding the owner’s head still while striking her. Footage shows that they eventually pulled off the owner’s hijab, pulled her hair, and allegedly stomped on her head and neck.
“As part of our investigative process, all motives, including the potential that this was a hate-motivated offence, are being thoroughly examined,” police said. “The DRPS Hate Crime and Equity and Inclusion units are involved and working with investigators. Our immediate priorities are to ensure the victim receives appropriate support and identify those responsible.”
Police warn against circulating the unblurred video as many of the attackers are likely under the age of 18, and any footage identifying them could constitute a breach of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They are asking anyone involved to come forward and for anyone with information about the incident to call Durham Regional Crime Stoppers.
Though the investigation is still ongoing and motives remain unknown, Muslim community groups such as the National Council of Canadian Muslims and some leftist politicians have decried “Islamaphobia” over the incident and are labelling it a hate-motivated attack.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie called the incident an “Islamophobic attack” on X.
“I’m horrified by the violent, Islamophobic attack on a Muslim woman in Oshawa today,” Crombie said. “We must condemn Islamophobia and all acts of hate in the strongest terms. We will never stop fighting for the peace and safety all Ontarians deserve.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called on the incident to be investigated as a hate crime, and declared that Islamophobia has no place in Canada.
Ajax’s Liberal MPP Rob Cernjanec said, “No one should be targeted or harmed because of their faith, clothing or the courage they show in protecting their business and community.” He called for the provincial government to implement “anti-hate strategies” in schools.
Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s culture minister, emphasized that the attack was on a Muslim woman and that the attack was “not who we are as Canadians.”
Oshawa’s Mayor similarly released a statement on Wednesday, saying the city is built on the values of “inclusion, respect and safety,” and that “no one should have to experience hateful or unlawful actions that take away from that sense of safety.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims have posted multiple lengthy condemnations of the incident and held a press conference in Oshawa alongside the daughter of the victim.
“It is difficult to find words to summarize the horrors of this attack. We are in contact with all relevant parties and are in touch with the authorities,” the NCCM said in a post. “The facts are clear: Islamophobic attacks have spiked across the country in the past two years, including a recent string of Islamophobic incidents in the Durham region.”
The group called on Canada’s elected leaders to “take action to address this wave of hate.”
“We need real change. We need improved hate crime units in each region, an extension of the Anti-Hate Grant to include businesses facing hate, as well as an anti-Islamophobia curriculum, similarly to those currently in the works in Manitoba and Alberta,” the NCCM said in another post. “We have no time to waste.”
The Anti-Hate Grant currently provides one-time grants of $5,000 – $10,000 for faith-based, cultural, LGBT+ and Indigenous groups for security. The grants can be used to enhance and implement protection measures such as “making building upgrades, enhancing locks, installing cameras, training staff, completing security assessments, hiring security, “ and more.
Oshawa’s Conservative MPs, on the other hand, emphasized the need for real consequences to deter violence, theft and other crimes, and expressed gratitude for police.
According to the Canada Crime Report. The Durham Region has experienced a 5.4 per cent year-over-year increase, although it saw a 0.7 per cent decrease in violent crime and a 9.2 per cent increase in non-violent crimes.
 | A guest post by
|
The poor owner that was attacked was probably a good conservative. It's time to denounce, not islamophobia, but letf-wing liberal progressive socialist activists' violence on anyone that doesn't repeat their talking point or have the same views they have. Time to expose and eliminate DEI and woke violence.
If authorities would address the many violent incidents that are started by extremists in the Islamic community in the first place, this division would not be escalating! When we have hate groups causing havoc and they are not checked by authorities, people get angry and lash out!