Mob rule takes over in Toronto as political and police leaders fail

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Mayor Olivia Chow confused mob rule with democracy this week after her New Yr’s skate and levee was overtaken for a time by pro-Palestinian protesters.

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What was presupposed to be a enjoyable day of skating with Chow to ring within the new 12 months as a substitute noticed these displaying up to soak up the occasion being greeted by banners, placards and Palestinian flags.

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An aged couple attempting to skate had been harassed and intimidated by goons making calls for of “ceasefire now.” When Chow tried to talk, she was drowned out with the identical chants, regardless that she has known as for a ceasefire and been usually supportive of the Palestinian trigger.

“That is what democracy appears to be like like,” Chow stated.

No, Ms. mayor, that’s what mob rule appears to be like like.

Sadly, the officers who run our metropolis, from the mayor to the police chief, look like wonderful with letting mob rule take over. Protest is a part of democracy, however the roving mobs which have proven up throughout Toronto since Oct. 7 are doing extra than simply protesting; they’re attempting to pressure their view on the remainder of town.

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They’ve tried to do that by marching within the streets, attacking Jewish-owned companies, taking up malls and harassing customers and even Santa shows. They’ve lately taken to focusing on Jewish neighbourhoods and even the mayor’s skating get together.

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Intimidation and harassment will not be a part of democracy, and it’s time for the mayor and Police Chief Myron Demkiw to understand that and act accordingly.

As an alternative, now we have politicized policing.

When police, or native elected officers, need one thing addressed, they will take care of it shortly. The shutdown of the streets when a latest protest focused Queen’s Park is an efficient instance, as was the Toronto Police Service response to makes an attempt to carry the Freedom Convoy to town.

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When Adamson’s BBQ tried to open in the midst of COVID restrictions, police had been out in pressure, together with the mounted unit, to make sure that no brisket was consumed by unmasked or unvaxxed individuals.

Months of intimidation of the Jewish group is one other matter, as is obstructing roadways in clear violation of the regulation.

Final week, there was a focused arson at a Jewish-owned deli, not a Kosher deli, not an Israeli deli chain, only a enterprise owned by Jews. As Warren Kinsella has identified, the arson, which he argues might and must be thought of terrorism, has been downplayed by Toronto Police and lots of within the media.

Nothing to see right here, simply an old style firebombing.

As my colleague Joe Warmington has written, pro-Hamas forces are actually accountable for Toronto and really feel like they will do as they please, from shutting down the Gardiner Expressway, to the Eaton Centre, to a freeway overpass.

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Demkiw has apologized for the incident the place officers delivered espresso and doughnuts to protesters on the Avenue Rd. overpass at Hwy. 401, however the issues in Toronto go effectively past a double-double supply.

On Dec. 22, Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue stated protests focusing on malls and roadways weren’t protected by Constitution Rights and that they wouldn’t be tolerated. Since then, TPS has proven nothing however toleration for such protests.

There isn’t any scarcity of ways in which police might cost and take care of these breaking the regulation; there simply appears to be a scarcity of political will from elected officers — and police, as effectively.

It’s time for leaders on this metropolis to search out their spines and put an finish to the mob rule.

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