Toronto has been controlled by Hamas in 2024, so it comes as no surprise that supporters of the terror group chose Boxing Day to once again target a Jewish-owned business.
It was just the latest incident where pro-Hamas protesters demonstrated their dominance over the mayor, premier, prime minister and law enforcement.
“What took place at the Eaton Centre was nothing short of a hate-filled attempt to unduly target a Jewish-owned business,” B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy Richard Robertson said. “It’s well past time for those involved in such behaviour to be prosecuted under the law.”
Good luck with that – it’s open season on Jews in Toronto.
The city’s network of Hamas supporters do what they want, when they want, where they want – and usually conduct their Kristallnacht-style intimidation tactics without ramifications.
On Wednesday, a loud group blocked the entrance to the mall and took control of the Indigo Books store in the Eaton Centre.
“Insanity. This isn’t a lawful demonstration for peace. It’s antisemitic hatred targeted at a Jewish-owned business – Indigo – designed to create chaos in public and intimidate the employees and shoppers who do business there,” Toronto MP Marco Mendicino posted to X. “It’s a crime. And it should be prosecuted under the law!”
Fellow MP Kevin Vuong posted to X, “Enough is enough. It’s time to end the double standards and start upholding our laws.”
Certainly there is no leniency given to Jewish people who don’t protest but gather in memory of the missing 100 hostages.
There’s video from Bathurst St. and Sheppard Ave. W. of a Jewish man being told to remove his “Never Again” Jewish Defence League sweatshirt while across the street nothing is ever said about pro-Hamas supporters sporting Nazi symbols and antisemitic messaging.
“It is unfathomable that our leaders continue to embolden and enable those who wish to compromise the well-being of all Canadians through their callous acts of intimidation and incitement,” Robertson said. “As a society, we cannot allow for the continued denigration of our morals and values.”
Toronto Police say they had the Eaton Centre situation under control.
“On Boxing Day, a group of approximately 40 individuals briefly conducted a pop-up demonstration at the Eaton Centre,” said Const. Ashley Visser, who earlier told the Toronto Sun “there were no arrests made.”
“Mall security, supported by paid-duty police officers already on-site, asked the individuals to leave the premises,” she explained. “We were made aware of the demonstration at 4:06 p.m. and the group had exited the mall without incident by 4:15 p.m.”
It’s an advantage for Hamas to know they can take over mall, street corner, train station or university and not need a lawyer. The unwritten rule of 2024 that Hamas is above the law needs to be retired for 2025 before a Jewish girl’s school is shot at for a fourth time.
All of this mayhem stems from the lack of a strong denouncement from Mayor Olivia Chow, already under fire for not making it to a vigil marking the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre. Now Chow is being called out for not only leaving a Jewish event early but actually exiting the stage in the middle of a prayer.
“The footage, which appears to show Mayor Chow leaving the Menorah lighting at Mel Lastman Square, is yet another cruel reminder of the Mayor’s apparent disinterest in meaningfully supporting the Jewish community,” B’nai Brith’s Robertson said.
Now, there is nuance to this incident. And at least she showed up this time.
“Mayor Olivia Chow left the Hannukka Menorah Lighting at Mel Lastman Square tonight in the middle of the program,” Dan Levy posted to X with video to back it up. “I watched it happen. The people running the event were confused. When mentioning dignitaries present that said ‘Toronto’s Mayor is…here, right?…Where is she?…’”
Councillor James Pasternak was at the podium introducing Chow but she had already disappeared.
“I must admit I didn’t see when she left and then acknowledged her when I spoke,” said Pasternak. “Didn’t know she was gone.”
Jewish Russian Community Centre CEO Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman said he texted her staff to make sure she was okay.
“It was explained she had a family function to attend,” he said.
He and Pasternak were still glad she came.
“I think I have to give the benefit of the doubt to the Mayor,” Pasternak said earlier. “The Mayor did call me in advance and explained her schedule and she did stay for the most important part of the evening: the lighting of the Menorah.”
But does a pilot leave the cockpit early because of another commitment? Chow is not known for leaving other religious events early she attends – often wearing cultural clothing.
“The Mayor left around 6:50 p.m. to attend her own family gathering,” said her spokesperson Bradley Hammond. “The existence of the family gathering on December 25th was shared with the organizers of the Menorah Lighting at Mel Lastman Square ahead of time.
“December 25th was a day of celebration for many in Toronto,” Hammond added. “I know the Mayor was pleased to join in the celebrations at Mel Lastman Square for the Menorah Lighting, participate in Christmas food deliveries earlier in the day and join her own family for celebrations.”
On Toronto 640 Radio on Boxing Day, hosting for vacationing Greg Brady, Toronto MP Kevin Vuong had on Jewish Professor Eric Kam from Toronto Metropolitan University who said “it’s just a pattern now,” and that Chow’s support is often “not there” but “when it is there, it is half-hearted.”
Pro-Hamas demonstrators see that as support for them.
Mayor Chow and Toronto Police’s New Year’s resolution should be to stop worrying about Hamas’s feelings and consider how Jewish people feel seeing a terror group calling all the shots.