Torontonians gather to condemn antisemitism

Amid growing reports of antisemitism throughout the world in recent weeks, several hundred people gathered at Toronto’s Mel Lastman Square to express solidarity with Israel and call for an end to hate against the Jewish people.

Although the event had heavy security to ensure it remained safe for attendees, the underlying message was heavy on calls for peace.

Remarking on the presence of people from Hong Kong, Vietnam, Iran, Azerbaijan, and more at the event, MC Emil Yalzierov said “The world is coming together to spread love and peace! That’s what we’re here for: to live together in peace.”

Referencing the way governments often pit people against one another, and including the Palestinian people in his calls for unity, he declared "We won’t let politicians tell us we hate each other."

Shai DeLuca, an Interior Design Expert on CityTV's Cityline who last year sued Foodbenders amid allegations of antisemitism from the restaurant's owner, was one of the speakers.

"Are today’s Syrian refugees colonizers? Are Armenians who fled genocide by the Turks colonizers? Are any people who flee persecution and find safety in another country colonizers? Of course not. So why doesn’t that apply to the Jewish people as well?" DeLuca asked.

Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak was also in attendance. "We all understand that there are grievances worldwide," he said. "However no matter what the grievance is, this explosion of hate and antisemitism is shocking, sad, unacceptable, and illegal."

Pasternak noted that on Tuesday he will be meeting with Mayor John Tory and others "who are sick and tired of this harassment and hate."

Dan Koren, Executive Director of Hasbara Fellowships, said "Make no mistake that anti-Zionism is a manifestation of the world’s oldest hatred that we all know unfortunately all too well: antisemitism."

Iranian human rights activist and former political prisoner Salman Sima greeted the audience in the many languages spoken by attendees. He then drew comparisons between Nazi Germany and the current genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Communist China. "Before being Jew, Muslim, Christian, or Atheist, we are all human. We are all equal, and we are all sisters and brothers."

"Canada is a land of peace and prosperity. It should not allow any hate to be that bad here," Sima said, adding "In Canada, we need to take a stand and act firmly against antisemitism which unfortunately is raising day by day."

One attendee had a message to antisemites: "Here’s our message to the Jew haters in the GTA: We are not leaving."