Toronto Police Union Says Mayor Should Back Cops as Councillors Criticize Officers at Pro-Palestine Protests

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow speaks to media at Toronto City Hall on July 12, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Tijana Martin)

The Toronto Police Association has accused Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow of not backing officers after city councillors questioned the conduct of police who clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators at a protest.

“We are at a loss for words when our own mayor refuses to stand by our members who have gone beyond the call of duty to police over 500 protests over the last 6 months,” the association said in an April 9 statement.

The association, which represents approximately 8,000 uniform and civilian members of the Toronto Police Service, added it had not spoken with Ms. Chow directly despite an April 5 promise that she would call. “She continues to be silent on the treatment of our members,” it said.

Six Toronto city councillors recently signed a letter in support of Torontonians’ right to protest at pro-Palestinian marches. The letter said it was “deeply concerning” that citizens were fearful of engaging in large protests, and that Toronto needed to be a place where citizens could “protest as a form of democratic assembly.”

“In these difficult times of heightened tensions in the world and Toronto, these rights must be protected as part of our democratic society,” the letter reads.

Several people were arrested at a pro-Palestinian rally in downtown Toronto March 30 after a tow truck diver was charged for contravening the Highway Traffic Act by driving with occupants in the bed of his truck.

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The police said demonstrators became aggressive with them during the arrest. One woman threw horse manure at officers while another used a flagpole to “spear” at an officer, police allege.

The Palestinian Youth Movement, a Toronto rally organizer, has accused police officers of using excessive force when dealing with protestors at the March 30 protest.

When asked about the city councillors signing the letter, Ms. Chow said Toronto residents have the right to speak their minds.

“I’m not into condemning anyone. I believe it’s important, if people want to express themselves publicly, to do so in a respectful, peaceful and lawful manner,” she said in a statement to the media. “So the councillors are expressing their opinions ... which they have every right to do.”

One of the signatories of the letter, councillor Lily Cheng, later said in a social media post it was a “mistake” to sign the letter. She said she did not have an opportunity to review it in its final form. “We did not endorse the final version,” she added.

The Epoch Times contacted Ms. Chow for a comment, but did not hear back by publication time.

‘Reckless’

The statement by the six councillors was “absolutely reckless,” TPA President Jon Reid said during an interview with local radio host Greg Brady. He also said Toronto police officers have been “very balanced” while covering protests over the last six months, and have arrested people on both sides of the issue.

Pro-Palestinian groups have been gathering in major Canadian cities to protest on many weekends since the surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel by terrorist group Hamas has resulted in full-scale war in the Gaza Strip.

Toronto Police Service Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue says the force has spent more than $12 million on staffing demonstrations since October.

Officers have attended hundreds of protests since the war began, Deputy Chief Pogue told reporters April 5, adding that demonstrators have recently become more aggressive.

“We recognize the vast majority of people showing up are there for a cause, and to speak up and be heard,” Deputy Chief Pogue said. “However, there are individuals consistently involved in the protests who act as agitators and who are becoming increasingly confrontational and violent.”