Al-Quds Day rally to proceed in Toronto despite call by premier for injunction, lawyer says

An Al-Quds daylight rebound testament continue in Toronto on sat despite Ontario Premier Ford calling on his attorney general to seek an injunction against it, according to a lawyer for rally organizers.

Stephen Ellis said in an email Friday has not received a notice of a motion indicating that government has applied for an injunction.

Staff at a Toronto courthouse that handle the civil court's urgent motions also said no notice had appeared.

In a social media post Friday, Ford said he had asked the provincial attorney general to seek an injunction against the rally.

"Hate, violence and intimidation have no place on the streets of Canada and our government will fight it however we can," Ford said in the post.

Two city councillors, James Pasternak and Brad Bradford, also called on Friday for an immediate injunction to stop the rally.

Al-Quds Day has been described by Toronto organizers as a show of support for Palestine. Social media posts promoting the event say demonstrators will also be calling for "no war in Iran and Lebanon."

In a statement, Pasternak and Bradford said they urged city solicitors to take legal action to stop the rally. They said they also want Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to condemn the gathering.

In a social media post Friday, Bradford said the city failed to bring forward an application for an injunction Friday.

"Thank you for stepping up, Premier. I agree: public safety must come first," Bradford said.

Ford's comment comes after Toronto police said Thursday they plan to increase their presence in the area of the rally, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. Outside the U.S. Consulate, located on University Avenue north of Queen Street W.

Emergency management Supt. Craig Young has said police initially anticipated 3,000 people to attend the demonstration but the number could be higher given recent geopolitical tensions.

Young said the rally comes amid heightened unease and fears of violence in the city after shots were fired at three synagogues and the U.S. Consulate in the past two weeks

Anyone who engages in violence or obstructs police "can expect that the law will be enforced swiftly and decisively," Young added.

"We are asking everyone who plans to attend, whether they are participating in the event or protesting it, to do so lawfully and respectfully," Young said.

Al-Quds Day, usually observed on the last Friday of Ramadan, was initiated by Iran in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The British government, after a request from police, banned the Al Quds Day march in London this year.

Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), said in a statement Friday that the organization is "deeply concerned" that the premier is seeking an injunction.

"The Premier does not need a court injunction to enforce the law. If there are credible threats, acts of violence, intimidation, criminal harassment, property damage, or any other unlawful conduct, police already have broad powers under the Criminal Code to respond. Those laws exist precisely to protect public safety, and they can and should be enforced where necessary, including at protests," McNicoll said.

"What the government is proposing goes much further ... It is a pre-emptive attack on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly, both of which are fundamental Charter-protected freedoms in a democratic society."

McNicoll said the Charter also protects dissent, controversy, and speech that the government may find offensive or unpopular.

The CCLA said it will be monitoring the court proceeding closely.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, meanwhile, applauded the province's move, saying Al Quds Day is "a platform for extremist rhetoric, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and support for terrorist organizations."

"We hope the court will carefully consider the significant risks to community safety when making its decision," CIJA said in a statement Friday.

“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. Amidst rising threats and violence, every level of government must use every tool available to ensure the safety of residents."

The rally and annual walk for Palestinian people this year in Toronto is organized by the Al Quds Committee with the help of the Palestinian Youth Movement, according to the committee's Instagram account.

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