The Al-Quds Day rally, an annual venue for anti-Israel rhetoric, took place in front of the U.S. consulate in downtown Toronto on March 14 as a war in the Middle East raged.

It almost never happened.

A day before, Premier Doug Ford of Ontario instructed Attorney General Doug Downey to issue an injunction to stop it from moving ahead. “This demonstration is nothing more than a breeding ground for hate and antisemitism,” Ford said in a video. “It glorifies violence. It celebrates terrorism. It has no place in Ontario. It has no place in Canada.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs applauded Ford’s decision to seek an injunction: “While peaceful protest is a right in Canada, the glorification of terrorist organizations, the spread of extremist ideology, and the incitement of violence have no place in our communities.”

Ford’s argument was rejected by Superior Court Justice Robert Centa after a 90-minute hearing and less than one hour before the rally was due to get under way at 3 p.m.

Ruling that the protesters have a right to free expression under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the judge said that the attorney general had not presented sufficient evidence to back up his claim that the rally would turn dangerous and prevent police from controlling the crowd.

Ford said he was “extremely disappointed” by the court’s verdict.

He issued his statement as the United States and Israel intensified their joint military campaign in Iran and in the wake of recent attacks during which unidentified assailants fired shots at the American consulate and three synagogues in and around Toronto.

Stephen Ellis, the Al Quds Day lawyer, denounced Ford, saying he was “pandering to the most backward political elements in our society … who are uncritically supporting Israel, no matter what it does.”

Canadians........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)