#toronto police

[allthecanadianpolitics]

TPS just assaulted people, and put 3 peaceful pro-Palestine protestors in the hospital today: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2DqihMAGMg/?igsh=MXJxcWg0bmF3Z3dmbA==

Please tag and share this widely, I don't know if news is going to cover it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Palesign non-profit organization (@pal.esign)

[newsfromstolenland]

"Members of Toronto's LGBTQ+ community are raising questions about the appointment of the city's new chief of police, Myron Demkiw, following his official swearing-in on Monday.

Specifically, they want to know how an officer who participated in the infamous Pussy Palace raid has become the city's top cop. 

Chanelle Gallant, a community activist and one of the original Pussy Palace organizers, is demanding answers from Toronto Mayor John Tory. 

"Mayor Tory appointed someone who, from what we can tell, is an old school cops' cop who brings a kind of lack of accountability and a willingness to... violate the human rights of Toronto residents," said Gallant.

In September of 2000, six male Toronto police officers raided a bathhouse event for queer women and transgender people by what was known as the Pussy Palace Collective. Organizers said the party was designed to help women explore their sexuality in a supportive setting.

In 2002, an Ontario provincial court judge ruled that police were wrong to raid the event and a subsequent class-action lawsuit resulted in an apology by police.

Shortly after Demkiw's appointment in September, news broke that he had participated in the raid."

Full article

tagging: @allthecanadianpolitics

[toronto-intifada]

Sanad Alajrami describes Toronto Police violence against pro-Palestinian protestors

"In terms of what’s going on here, I had a reality check, because often I’ve been like, you know, at least I’m here. I’m grateful for what I do have here. But I was actually at the Land Day protest on March 30 and I experienced one of the most traumatic events in my life there. I genuinely was not sure if I was… what was going to happen to me, because I had to witness so many of my friends get choked, like with police knees on their neck, thrown to the ground. So many kids get thrashed, so many elderly people get hurt, horses run into the crowd, and I was choked on the ground by a cop. I had to go to the hospital after to check for a concussion and stuff, and I have a scar now on my hand and on my forehead. They’re small, but it definitely shook me up and sort of made me even more paranoid, which I think is something that comes with being Palestinian"

Sanad at the Land Day march in Toronto, Mar. 31, 2024. Photo: Joshua Best.

FULL ARTICLE

[transparentgentlemenmarker]

Toronto voiture de police LGBT+

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Swastika Feud Battles in Toronto Injure 4, Fists, Boots, Piping Used in Bloor Street War," Toronto Globe. August 17, 1933. Page 1 & 2. ---- "Hail Hitler" Is Youth's Cry; City in Turmoil ---- Trucks Loaded With Jews and Italians Rush to Scene ---- POLICE ARE CALLED --- Willowvale Park Fracas Spreads to Bloor and Clinton ---- "Hail Hitler" - the taunt shouted by an unknown youth, waving a Swastika flag, on the banks of Willow-vale Park about 10.30 o'clock last evening precipitated Toronto's first Swastika riots, and sent four youths, three Jews and one Gentile lad, to the Western Hospital.While there are known to have been more injured in the pitched battle, fought with fists, boots, piping, and other weapons, and surging along Bloor Street from Willowvale Park (Christie Street) to Clinton Street, these are the youths who were taken to hospital:

DAVID FISCHER, AGED 21, 46 SPADINA AVENUE, abrasions about the head and face, struck by a piece of pipe at Christie and Bloor Streets.

AL ECKLER, AGED 23, 112 BRUNSWICK AVENUE, lacerations of the back and cut on head, struck by a baseball bat near the Park.

JOE BROWN, AGED 22, 118 EUCLID AVENUE, knocked down at Clinton and Bloor Streets, kicked in the face, and taken to hospital with badly cut face and lips.

JOE GOLDSTEIN, AGED 17, BELLWOODS AVENUE, struck with a baseball bat at Willowvale Park, sustained two cuts on the head which required several stitches.

Battle in Park. The Bloor Street battle followed earlier, but less serious trouble at Willowvale Park, and occurred after police believed they had squelched all the incipient fireworks. Who the youth was who waved the Swastika and shouted the "Hail, Hitler" challenge no one knows, but he was immediately rushed by a group of Jewish youths and reputedly knocked cold.

The assault upon the swastika wielder was the signal for a general inrush of Christian youths. who piled baseball bats and fists in a wild riot. By the time.police reserves arrived the battle had gradually moved over to Bloor and Clinton Streets, where some serious casualties occurred, and where, it is alleged, bottles for the first time became legitimate weapons. From this battlefront, it is said, many injured limped away or were assisted to their various homes.

Boys on a bicycle carried the news of the Christian-Jewish pitched battle down into the Brunswick-Spadina Avenue district, largely populated by Jews, and where there was a large gathering of Jewish people. The rumor was spread that a Jewish boy had been killed. Immediately. it is said, the Jews began to assemble motor trucks and passenger cars for assault upon the, Bloor Street sector, and, it is reported, they were joined by a carload of Italians.

Truckloads Assembled. These truckloads of Jews and Italians raced up to Bloor Street to participate in the fights, but were halted or sidetracked by police. who had arrived in the interval. Jewish lads hanging on the running-boards of the vehicles, however, were pulled off by Christian lads, and some of them reputedly injured.

The police seized two of the trucks and one passenger car and took them with their drivers to Ossington Avenue Police Station. They were soon released, however, after the drivers had given their names and addresses In one of the trucks was found a piece of two by four inch scantling, seven feet long, with a long spike driven in one end of it - - a potent weapon for any argument.

College Street, from Brunswick to Spadina Avenue, was thronged. by Jews late last evening, awaiting to hear the news, and exchanging what seemed to be wildly exaggerated rumors of the seriousness of the affair. Police estimated that 5,000 Jews surged College Street in this section.

Threats of impending reprisals were said to be plentiful among the College Street throngs of Jews.

Sequel to Ball Game. Swazis and Jews tangled in a more or less anticipated free-for-all, which climaxed the second game of the St. Peter-Harbord series at Willowvale Park. Precautionary measures and prompt action on the part of the police cut short active hostilities, und the large crowd of onlookers and luke-warm partisans was easily dispersed by a half dozen mounted men and a few motorcycle police. But two people received injuries before the brawl was stopped.

Last night's activities were apparently linked up with minor disturbances said to have taken place at the first game of the series, which was played on Monday evening. The two teams which are fighting in the junior semi-finals for the city softball championship are made up almost entirely of Jews in the case of the Harbord team, and ot non-Semetics in the St. Peter's line-up. Although both teams have officially disassociated themselves from any Swazi-Semitic controversy. partisans and onlookers have made the games an occasion for demonstrations.

Trouble began in a group seated on the rising ground above the north-west diamond, on which the game was being played. According to bystanders. there as an interchange of abusive remarks, followed by fisticuffs and a show of bats and sticks. The approach of a constable cut the fracas short, and the participants took night over the hill and out of the park by way of Barton Avenue.

Trouble During Game. Although the game was only in the second inning, the managers agreed to call off the contest in case of any further trouble. No disturbances developed, but the crowd of spectators increased as the other games in the park were finished, until a complete square of onlookers, in some places two and three deep, surrounded the outfield. In this group, and in the crowd seated on the hillside, were stationed a detail of constables from the Ossington Avenue Station and a sprinkling of plainclothesmen.

The game continued its regular routine, and, although no trouble appear-ed. there was a general quiet comment on the first fight, and the possibilities of further trouble. It was almost dark when the St. Peter's team ensured its 6-5 victory by catching a fly from the last Harbord batsman.

And at the same time some one could be distinguished laying a huge banner, apparently bearing a swastika,on a little mound just north of the park limits on Bloor Street. A group of 100 boys and young men streamed across the length of the park as fast as they could run. Some one hurriedly picked up the banner and ran south just as the van of the attackers reach-ed the mound. This group, now swell-ed to several hundred, chased the bearer of the Hitlerite insignia across Bloor Street and down Montrose Avenue, apparently cornering him in anextension of Bickford Ravine.

Traffic Is Stopped. A few minutes later several hundred surged back Montrose headed by a group of young Jews carrying what was left of the Swastika. As they reached Bloor Street, the police marched into the centre of the mix-up, laid hands on the banner and the 21-year-old Jew, who was carrying it. and began to disperse the crowd of several thousand which had practically stopped all Bloor Street traffic.

With the assistance of six mounted police, who were greeted with a slight burst of booing, the constables soon re-established traffic on Bloor Street, and by this means divided the crowd. The latter, made up for the most part of neutral spectators, dispersed into the park and neighborhood in short order. Two motorcycle police drove down into the playing fields and patrolled these for some time occasionally letting the fumes fly from their exhaust but apparently without serious purpose.

Reserves Called Out. Police arrangements were in charge of Patrol Sergeant Robert Reid of the Ossington Avenue Station. After traffic was stopped on Bloor Street, reserves were called in from the Dundas West, the North Toronto and the Davenport Road Stations, under Inspector Robert Anderson and Acting Inspectors Fenwick and Evans.

In a statement to the press last night the managers of both teams united with S. A. Sansone in declaring that the members of their teams were in no way connected with the disturbance. Some of the opposing players, according to the managers had played together on other teams and there has been, and there is no hard feeling between them. They expressed the hope that the Toronto Amateur Softball Association would see fit to schedule the remaining games of the series in a closed park where admission could be in some way restricted.

[nando161mando]

"Traffic Services (🤷🏾‍♀️) took to TikTok, a major source of calls.

Translation:

PLEASE STOP CALLING US."

#PoliceDontKeepUsSafe

[babakca]

Police Officer on Bloor Street Toronto  April 2023   Photo BABAK 

[tonyburgessblog]

Wordless Wednesday

[laurelrusswurm]

TODAY!!! The Ontario Court of Appeal will be hearing this important case at 10am

Sar-El Canada is allegedly breaking Canadian law by recruiting Canadian volunteers to go to Israel and support the IDF. But the Canadian Government refuses to enforce its own law.

There was a Canadian Parliamentary Petition asking it to uphold the law they ignored.

Two concerned Canadian citizens, Rabbi David Mivasair and Palestinian artist Rehab Nazzal, filed a complaint with the Toronto Police about Sar-El Canada's activities.

The police did nothing so they got lawyers to launch a private prosecution. Evidence on the alleged offence was presented at a hearing, and Sar-El Canada was formally charged.

No one has ever been able to get a criminal charge laid to stop illegal recruitment of Canadian volunteers for Israel's armed forces until now.

But politics wasn't having it. The Crown prosecution took over the case and withdrew the charge.

This is what is being appealed this morning.

It should not be this hard to get our governments to obey their own laws. ================================================

IMAGE ALT TEXT:

TODAY!!! Nov 7th, 2024 10am (Toronto Time)

Tweet: [twitter avatar] Shane Martínez @martinezdefence "It is a crime to recruit people in Canada to enlist or engage with a foreign army. However, the Attorney General refuses to prosecute those who allegedly recruit volunteers to assist the Israeli armed forces."

[thread] https://x.com/martinezdefence/status/1853949847599997103

watch on Zoom app: https://ca01web.zoom.us/postattendee?mn=DxLBMHb0oubtQVc9LpcHNVVEA0xHiD34tUln.dwOYELliHHFwVaX9 shortened URL: https://t.co/FD1Hum7Zcq

or on your Browser at https://app.zoom.us/wc/64669140821/join ?fromPWA=1&pwd =bBZXIR1rgnuxb3nrcQNy33TNPFX4zp.1

#CDNpoli #ONpoli #Shane Martínez

[destkelamedia]

Toronto Police Arrest Amaka Sunnberger Over Threats to Poison Yoruba and Benin Communities

[allthecanadianpolitics]

"Toronto Mayor John Tory says he will push to increase the city's police budget, saying inflation and a "fraying at the edges" of community safety make the move necessary.

Tory made the comments recently in a wide-ranging year-end interview with CBC Toronto. The mayor would not give specifics about the ask which will come to city council next month when budget deliberations begin in earnest. But after  constraining the police budget when he was first elected in 2014, he believes it's now time to grow the services' $1.1- billion annual spending package.

"I will be advocating that (police) should get an increase, and that it's an increase that I think is entirely justifiable," Tory said. "When I go to the neighborhoods where there's been a shooting that's taken place … they want more money spent on police, they want more police officers."

Earlier this month, new Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said he too would ask city council to hike the service's budget. Response times for calls are not where they should be, he said.

Tory said any increase will be done "responsibly" and within the limited funds of the city's budget, which opens the year with a $1.4-billion deficit. He stressed that a cut would not be appropriate."

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[toronto-intifada]

Words from 61 year old Palestinian Refugee in Canada, Maryam Alnazer

"I was born in Palestine, in the city of Hebron. I finished my high school there, under the occupation, of course. I witnessed many scary things in my childhood. I was maybe 5 or 6 years old when the Israeli forces came to my home to arrest my uncle, who was 16 years old, at 3AM. Can you imagine a child, five or six years old, waking up to see the soldier over, with his full weapons?

We had many arrested in my family and in my city, friends and neighbours. It was also very difficult to walk to the school, and many times they (soldiers) came to the school, only trying to frighten people. I still sometimes dream about that that they came. And many nights you also see your neighbour, they kill him for nothing. Many young people.

So I came here as a skilled worker in 2017-2018. I chose Canada from four countries. I preferred Canada because I thought I will find peace and justice here, right? And it's the best country to live in.

Unfortunately, last year was very bad for us to see that there is no democracy in Canada. Without a democracy, there is no peace. I don't really feel safe here anymore because I saw with my own eyes how the police, instead of protecting us, is attacking us. We are only demonstrating peacefully. I really cannot understand when five big policemen attack a tiny girl. One of them held her, and 20 other police protected them, so we cannot help her. Can you imagine? I saw this.

I couldn't believe. I thought I can live in peace here. I really am scared of the police here. They remind me of Israeli soldiers. They are the same, believe me, especially the Toronto ones.

After Land Day (in March), they arrested me. They came to my house. Maybe 12 people, with a ram to open the door if I don't open it. Can you imagine? I'm 61 years old. They took me to the station for five hours, then they released me

I didn't do anything. They are accusing me that I have a weapon and I hit a horse. It was my flag. This is a weapon for them. I didn't even reach out to the horse to push them. The horses are so big and they were walking through us (the crowd).

My background is in physiotherapy. I have a degree in physical culture and physiotherapy. So all my life, I've been working with people, sick people, handicapped, and treating people. I will not hurt anybody.

We are not terrorists. We are trying to protest peacefully here.

I think that any nation under occupation for 76 years has the right to defend itself. We tried with Israel, tried with peace, but Israel is not respecting anything. They are still taking our land, killing our people.

But of course, we still have hope"

-Maryam Alnazer for The Grind

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“ALLEGES BATONS USED TOO FREELY,” Hamilton Spectator. March 25, 1931. Page 13. ---- Toronto Mayor in Clash With Chief Draper ---- Clubs Used To Disperse Unemployed Citizens --- Toronto, March 24 - Conflict between Mayor W. J. Stewart and Chief C. Draper flared forth to night when the mayor charged the chief of police with having "attacked him." A special meeting of the police commission was held at which Mayor Stewart, as chairman, asked that Chief Draper be disciplined for his "high-handed, defiant attitude" in refusing to curb the use of batons by his men. No action was taken by Police Commissioners Morson and Coatsworth, but the mayor peremptorily warned Chief Draper that police weapons were to be kept out of sight, except in special circumstances.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Mayor Stewart stated Controller James Simpson had reported certain unemployed citizens had been dispersed by a motor cycle constable with a drawn baton. 

"I took the matter up with Gen. Draper and asked him if I could assure the controller that batons are only to be used as a last resort. After a wordy conference pertaining to Controller Simpson, at the chief's request three of us went to his office. Unfortunately the incident was not discussed, but an at- tack was made upon me for the manner in which I broached the subject, and an attack was made upon Controller Simpson for not going to him (the chief) or the board of police commissioners. I called a special meeting of the commissioners, this afternoon, and invited the chief to be present. He was out.

"The commissioners expressed their personal views, but refrained from expressing their views on the question of policy until the police commission meets. In the interval, I do not intend to wait from Monday until Thursday to let unemployed citizens know that they will not be dispersed with batons. I am clearly setting out my position here, and in so doing I stated to the chief of police that weapons and force should be used only for self-defense when circumstances warrant and when peace and order are in danger of being disturbed."

[sammyinsights]

All out to 52 Division - Brutalization and Arrest of Protestors Continues

During a Toronto Palestinian Protest this afternoon, Toronto Police Officers brutalized and arrested a protester

They knocked him to the ground, punched and kicked repeatedly on the head, and put a knee on him neck, circling him as protestors recorded them, yelling at them to get back.

They wore white bicycle helmets, black jackets, and masks that covered everything but their eyes

Major grassroots organizations such as Palestinian youth movement, pymtoronto and Toronto Muslims have called on the community to go to the 52 division to shame them over their repeated brutalizations of protestors.

The protestor has been in police custody ever since with the community rallying Division 52 - 255 Dundas St W) for his release, still present as of reporting

To participate- call 416 808 5200 to demand the protestors release.

His identity and whereabouts is currently unknown

Link to Recording

12/10/23

Edit: 6:53

The Protestor has been released!

[allthecanadianpolitics]

A Toronto man who was shot multiple times by a police officer while he was walking his dog last month says more could have been done to de-escalate the situation that almost left him dead.

“They pointed their guns at me right away. They shouted one command and immediately I felt a shot and right after I just heard multiple shots going off,” Devon Fowlin told reporters at a news conference organized by his lawyer Wednesday.

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[eretzyisrael]

Source, with video