Toronto pro-Palestine activists plan rush hour shutdown of subway line

A pro-Palestine protest group is planning on shutting down a portion of Toronto’s subway system on Tuesday evening to demand an immediate arms embargo on Ottawa’s shipments to Israel.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

A pro-Palestine protest group is planning on shutting down a portion of Toronto’s subway system on Tuesday evening to demand an immediate arms embargo on Ottawa’s shipments to Israel.

Palestinian activist group East-End Acts posted details last week of the planned “Danforth Takeover” protest, which intends to disrupt all eight TTC subway stops from Broadview to Main St.

“The new Arms Embargo Now report confirms what we’ve long known: Canada is still arming Israel, despite government claims to the contrary. Over 421,000 bullets and dozens of weapons shipments have left this country since October 2023 — used in a genocide and growing famine in Gaza,” reads the post from East-End Acts.

“This is a critical moment to take action, put continued pressure on our MPs and stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Join East End Acts for a Week of Action to demand an immediate arms embargo and end Canada’s complicity.”

East-End Acts encouraged protesters to “bring signs, pots and pans” between 5 and 7 p.m. Tuesday to capitalize on rush hour traffic.

Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak called the plan a “threat to critical city infrastructure,” demanding authorities take “all necessary measures to ensure public safety.”

“I am calling on the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Transit Commission to take all necessary measures to ensure public safety, maintain order and protect people’s right to safe access to public transit across our city,” said Pasternak in a statement released on Monday night.

“The safety and security of all Torontonians is our priority and we expect decisive action to mitigate this threat against public transit.”

Meanwhile, a TTC spokesperson said while traffic may be affected, subway stations will remain open and fully operational.

The TTC said it has been in contact with protest organizers who confirmed rallies will not take place on their property.

“Our special constables are in contact with Toronto Police and will be ready to respond accordingly to ensure that our service can continue without disruption,” TTC media relations spokesperson Stuart Green wrote in a statement.

However, Pasternak believes the planned protest will violate the Criminal Code because it intends to obstruct the “use of the city’s infrastructure (intimidation and mischief), making it unlawful to assemble for that purpose.

“It is not an activity that is protected by the Charter,” he said.