York Centre MP pleads for safety of Walk With Israel attendees

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“Enough is enough!”

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Those were among the many strong words newly-elected Conservative MP Roman Baber used to describe the ongoing scourge of threats and violence against Jews in Toronto.

And the York Centre MP called out Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and Mayor Olivia Chow in an emotional video appeal he posted to his X account on Saturday.

Calling a planned counter protest – dubbed Walk Against Israel – against Sunday’s 56th annual United Jewish Appeal’s Walk With Israel concerning, Baber urged Demkiw and Chow to ensure the laws are strictly enforced.

“I love Toronto Police,” Baber wrote on X. “But its Leadership has largely turned a blind eye to the hate crimes that terrorize Toronto’s Jewish Community.”

“Mayor Olivia Chow and Chief Demkiw must fix this before someone is killed!” he pleaded.

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This is something many are worried about in the wake of Wednesday’s despicable slaying of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington, D.C.

In a video posted to social media on Friday, Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue indicted there will be a major police presence at the UJA’s Walk With Israel event on Sunday.

She also said there will be designated protest zones and that charges will be laid against anyone espousing hate speech or committing criminal acts.

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But with taunting happening from the pro-Hamas protesters online – including claims that a plane load of those involved in last November’s pogrom in Amsterdam has arrived in Toronto – people fear for the worst.

Baber, speaking from his constituency office, said many Jewish families have expressed they are scared about attending this event.

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City Councillor James Pasternak has reviewed the police plan and feels people will be safe, but he does reiterate that the protesters have repeatedly shown they don’t respect the rules, which creates an expensive security problem.

Neither Chief Demkiw nor Mayor Chow have commented so far on Baber’s video.

But one thing they could do is make the area is a no-gone zone for protesters and deem the square at City Hall as the approved demonstration zone to protect families from confrontations during Sunday’s march in North York.

Protesters have a right to protest, but as Baber correctly points out, synagogues have been vandalized, Jewish schools have been shot up and people sitting on restaurant patios have been tormented by smoke grenades since the slaughter committed by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Baber told the Toronto Sun he has not yet heard from Mayor Chow or Chief Demkiw.

But he maintains what is happening is “not acceptable, not peaceful and not lawful.”

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Baber said both he and Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, a fellow MP, plan to attend the walk.

He also reminds “intimidation” does not find itself protected as a charter right and said he feels protests should be held outside of the Legislature, City Hall or consulate rather than at community events.

“Protesting and demonstrating should be on government or officials, but not on people,” he said.

Baber also asked how much is enough and how much is too much?

And when is turning a blind eye to all of this going to lead to someone being hurt or killed in the city?

jwarmington@postmedia.com

@joe_warmington

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