Stop the hatefests

Re: Flinging dung isn’t free speech — Michael Higgins, April 4; and ‘Agitators’ escalating pro-palestinian demos — April 6

It was a refreshing change to see the police do more than stand around while roving masked mobs shut down Toronto streets week after week. Mind you, being at the receiving end of a fistful of horse manure would try anyone’s patience.

I was also pleased to see Michael Higgins refer to the mob more accurately as pro-hamas” rather than the milquetoast “pro-palestinian” moniker that the other more timid media have adopted.

What we have experienced since Oct. 7 are neither protests nor-pro-palestinian. These must be seen for what they are: a full-frontal assault on our Canadian values, our institutions and our way of life.

We are being tested as never before. The mob is pushing ever harder, probing our weaknesses and looking to see just how far they can go before they encounter pushback. And so far they have encountered little resistance.

Canada is by no means a perfect country, but it is still one of the best places in the world. Unless Canadians stand firm and demand an end to the hatefests, the bullying and the intimidation, we will learn the hard way just how fragile our democratic values and way of life really are.

E. Joan O’callaghan, Toronto

In a gross, Orwellian miscarriage of justice, Iranian-canadian Salman Sima was arrested at a pro-israel rally in Toronto last weekend for carrying a sign saying “Hamas is a terrorist organization.” Canada has long declared Hamas to be a terrorist entity.

Despite the fact that pro-palestinian demonstrators supporting Hamas are becoming increasingly more confrontational and violent, there have been shockingly few arrests — except when police officers are attacked.

Hate speech, incitement for the annihilation of Israel and Jews is illegal. Blocking highways and streets without permits is illegal. Threatening, harassing and intimidating Jews is illegal. Actual violence is illegal. So where are the arrests?

Police inaction has emboldened protesters to escalate their actions because there have been little or no consequences. This must change. Our entire way of life is threatened.

Doris Epstein, Co-chair, Canadian Institute for Jewish Research