Scourge of Jew hate in Toronto now includes calls for assassinations
The city has become a dangerous place – particularly if you are Jewish, a supporter of Israel or a politician who stands up to anti-Semitism, terrorism, rape and murder
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Feb 21, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
A series of disturbing threats noticed on Dundas Street West are under investigation by Toronto Police.
A series of disturbing threats noticed on Dundas Street West are under investigation by Toronto Police. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED /Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
This wasn’t just graffiti or vandalism – this was death threats.
Hamas lovers don’t even hide their hate or intentions anymore. Things have escalated from pushing for “intifada” and removing Jews from the “river to the sea” to now calling for political assassinations.
Welcome to Toronto the terrifying, and Toronto the dangerous – particularly if you are Jewish, a supporter of Israel or a politician who dares to stand up to anti-Semitism, terrorism, rape and murder.
While the City of Toronto has cleaned up the anti-Jewish graffiti on Dundas St. W. that threatened the lives of politicians and anyone who supports Israel’s right to defend itself, the evil stink of it remains.
You can’t just paint over something like this.
“Kill all genociders,” read one of the messages written on the side of a road barrier.
“Bring back political assassinations,” read another.
Other stated: “Murder politicians” and “F— Zionists.”
This is dark stuff for Toronto the Good.
“If this doesn’t convince the city’s leadership that further action is needed to ensure the safety and sanctity of all Torontonians, what will?” B’nai Brith Director of Research and Advocacy Richard Robertson asked.
“This grotesque graffiti” and “incitement” has “reached a level of great concern” when “members of the public feel so emboldened as to openly call for the murder and assassination of our civic leaders,” he said.
The tone of hatred towards Jews is escalating and the message Hamas supporters are sending is that if political leaders don’t do what they say, they run the risk of facing what they are threatening.
“It is being investigated,” Toronto Police Const. Shannon Eames said.
Police received the first complaint about this graffiti on Feb. 18, but these heinous messages were in place until late on Feb. 20.
City Councillor Brad Bradford tells the Toronto Sun that the vile graffiti has now been removed by city staff.
“It’s disturbing,” he said.
It’s not lost on him, or any of us, that the hateful vandalism has jumped from the usual pro-Hamas, anti-Semitic language to the targeting of elected officials.
“It’s unacceptable,” added Bradford.
Spadina-Fort York MP Kevin Vuong, who reported the “hateful vandalism” and “blatant threat of violence” to police, agrees.
So far, Mayor Olivia Chow’s office has not commented.
But many residents have spoken out – including Ariella Kimmel, who posted to X the notion that “Zionist is a coded word for Jew” and “genocider is coded word for Zionist.”
Robertson said “to single out Zionists, members of the Jewish faith and their allies, in messages inextricably linked to calls for violence, is unjustifiable and a dangerous form of anti-Semitism. “
Check back on any of my columns in the past five months and you will see warnings that if rising anti-Semitism was not met with justice, it would grow and become more violent.
Sadly, this is what’s happening – and it’s only getting worse.
Every week since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7 there has been an increased level of unacceptable behaviour pushed by shadowy groups that are well-funded and protected by masks and the darkness of night. Whether it’s graffiti on a restaurant, bookstore, synagogue or a Hebrew school, or vandalism on a roadway or bridge, the people committing the crimes are difficult to catch.
But with so many cameras recording video around the city, sometimes police do track down suspects, as we saw with the arrests of the Indigo 11 – most of whom had more ties to academia than Gaza.
There is, however, a difference between this investigation and previous probes. In this case, there is no argument to be made for this being merely civil disobedience by people supporting a cause.
These are direct threats of homicide aimed at politicians, Jews and those who support Israel.
A fresh coat of paint won’t clean that up.
jwarmington@postmedia.com
This wasn't just graffiti or vandalism – this was death threats. Hamas lovers don’t even hide their hate or intentions anymore.
torontosun.com