Toronto police promise arrests if pro-Palestinian protests get violent

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Police are aware of a number of 'agitators' who were present at multiple demonstrations in Toronto and who were stirring up violence, said a Toronto Police Service deputy chief

Published Apr 05, 2024  •  Last updated 1 day ago  •  3 minute read

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Toronto Police have warned pro-Palestinian protesters to behave, saying agitators are escalating tensions on Toronto streets in the wake of multiple arrests at a downtown demonstration last Saturday.

Police have said that, during Saturday’s protest, they seized a truck to lay a charge of stunt driving, and that protesters then “became aggressive and assaultive” toward officers. They said one woman threw horse manure at officers while another “intentionally used a flagpole to ‘spear’ at an officer.” Organizers of the rally later accused the officers of using excessive force.

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Lauren Pogue, deputy chief of Community Safety Command, told a news conference at police headquarters on Friday that two people were arrested Saturday for assaulting police officers with weapons, and a third arrest was made this week for spitting on an officer, while a fourth person was being sought for striking a police horse.

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Pogue said police have not changed the way they are responding to protests, but that they will not hesitate to respond to violence directed against their officers.

“If they’re going to break the law, if they’re going to assault our police officers or assault our police horses, there will be consequences and people will be arrested,” she said. She also said police were aware of a number of “agitators” who were present at multiple demonstrations in Toronto and who were stirring up violence.

“Toronto police attend these gatherings to maintain public order, facilitate crowd control and above all to ensure the safety of everyone present, be they demonstrators, officers or the general public,” Pogue said.

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“We respect the right to assembly and to expression, but it’s crucial to understand that these rights are not limitless. Our officers are well versed in their authority during demonstrations, and when they take actions, it is unacceptable to obstruct them or become aggressive towards them.”

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She added: “We have engaged in ongoing discussions with protest organizers for many months. We have been clear on what lawful demonstrations include and do not include. Despite our repeated warnings and cautions, some protesters on Saturday refused to cooperate or follow police directives. This culminated in physical aggression towards out officers, a serious departure from the principles of lawful demonstration.

“These actions are anything but peaceful,” she said. “They jeopardize the safety of everyone involved, including those who get caught in the fray and have no intentions of engaging in altercations with police.”

Pogue added: “There are individuals consistently involved in the protests who act as agitators, and who are becoming increasingly confrontational and violent.”

In response to a question as to how many people this represented, Pogue declined to give a number. “We have agitators in the crowd and we have seen an escalation,” she said, adding: “We are seeing the same people showing up who are acting out in that way.”

Asked to comment on allegations by pro-Palestinian protesters that police had stepped up their actions or were acting selectively against them, Pogue said this was not the case.

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“We have not changed the way that we’ve responded since Oct. 7,” she said. “With respect to last weekend, again, we haven’t changed our posture at all, but we did respond to what we were facing, a very hostile crowd who actually assaulted our officers, threw manure, assaulted a police horse, and those members of the public were arrested.”

She noted that police try to liaise with protesters whenever possible so they know what to expect. But she noted: “We can’t force people to speak to us. It’s really at their whim.”

Pogue said more demonstrations are expected this weekend. “We are asking demonstrators to work with us to ensure peaceful and orderly demonstrations, and to recognize the city’s patience throughout months of disruption. While we remain dedicated to maintaining order with a measured response, we will not hesitate to enforce the law and make arrests where warranted.”

She also noted that the cost of policing the protests has now surpassed $12 million, highlighting the substantial commitment the police are making to ensure public safety.

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