Toronto’s Al-Quds rally goes ahead after judge dismisses Ontario’s injunction bid to stop it

A judge has 'dismissed' the Ontario government’s request to stop the Al-Quds Day rally in downtown Toronto, allowing it to proceed Saturday afternoon.

The Al-Quds Day rally went ahead in downtown Toronto on Saturday afternoon after a judge dismissed the Ontario government’s request for an injunction to prevent it from proceeding as planned.

The decision came hours after the Ford government filed a last minute application seeking to block the annual rally, which got underway at 3 p.m. near the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue near Armoury Street.

“The application for an interim interlocutory injunction is dismissed,” Superior Court Justice Robert Centa said just after 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

“I am not satisfied that the Attorney General of Ontario has met the test for a injunction to prevent all persons from engaging in the Al-Quds Day protest.”

‘An absurd attempt to abrogate our rights’

Stephen Ellis, the legal counsel for the Al-Quds Committee, which is one of the rally’s organizers, said they are “very excited” by the outcome of today’s injunction, adding they were “confident that it wasn’t going to succeed.”

“We expected that (the injunction) wouldn’t succeed because it was an absurd attempt to abrogate our rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech so we’re very, very happy. We’re going to exercise our rights today and we’re going to keep struggling until we have freedom in Palestine and everywhere else,” he told CTV News Toronto shortly after the decision was announced.

Ellis said there’s never been any hate speech or violence at the rally and they’d address it should that occur.

“We’ve been doing this for 30 years so if it ever happens we’ll take care of it,” he said, adding he believes this effort to stop today’s rally was “100 per cent politically motivated.”

Ford, meanwhile, has responded to the judge’s decision in a post on X.

“I am extremely disappointed that the court has refused to put a stop to Al-Quds Day, which has long been a venue for antisemitism, hatred, intimidation and the glorification of terrorism,” the Premier wrote.

“While the judge cited Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when we talk about rights we need to be clear that every person has the right to safety and security. We need to be clear that no one in Canada has the right to incite violence or free license to intimidate and hate.”

Ford also said that it’s “unbelievable” that the judge said Toronto police do not need an injunction to preserve the peace.

“If that’s the case, I fully expect that the police will immediately intervene at the first sign of hate, violence or glorification of terrorist organizations,” he said.

“I won’t stop working to put an end to the hatred and division that runs too rampant on Canada’s streets. I won’t stop working to protect the greatest province in the greatest country in the world.”

Saturday’s rally, and an accompanying counter-demonstration, saw some tense moments and there was a heavy police presence.

At 4 p.m., police announced the arrest of two people. They said more details will be provided in a media release at a later time.

Late afternoon, Toronto police posted a statement along with a video on social media.

“The rights to assembly and free expression are fundamental here in Canada, but there are laws that must be adhered to, and we will enforce them. Officers are on the ground today to uphold the right to demonstrate lawfully while holding those who engage in criminal activity accountable,” they said.

“We have a heavy police presence in the downtown area today and our officers will be making arrests for anyone breaking the law. Interfering with officers performing their duties or engaging in violence or any criminal behavior will not be tolerated.”

Roads closed, transit routes affected by rally

Several roads were closed due to the rally, including University between Dundas Street West and Queen Street, Bay Street between Dundas and Queen, Dundas from University to Bay, and Queen from Bay to University, but all reopened just before 7 p.m.

Service on the 505 Dundas streetcar route was suspended between Dundas at McCaul St and Dundas Street East at Church Street during the rally.

With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar and CTV News Toronto’s Natalie Johnson