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WARMINGTON: B'nai Brith questions why some protesters not ticketed

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A lot of people noticed pro-Palestine demonstrators outside Toronto’s Israeli Consulate Monday were not ticketed even though some did not wear masks or follow social-distancing protocols.

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Now B’nai Brith is calling out Toronto Police and the City of Toronto’s bylaw office.

“B’nai Brith demands equal enforcement of the law,” Canada’s “oldest independent Jewish Human Rights organization” said in a strongly-worded statement Wednesday.

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As fighting between Israel and Hamas-run Gaza escalates, they also warn they don’t want to see a repetition of what happened at Yonge and Bloor Sts. Monday.

“B’nai Brith Canada is calling for public health orders to be enforced consistently as illegal mass gatherings are being planned across the country in opposition to the Jewish State,” says a news release.

It had the appearance of a double standard and B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn said he felt he had to address the issue.

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“It is difficult to accept that while Jewish schools are forced to close, dangerous mass gatherings that call for the destruction of the Jewish State can apparently proceed without penalty,” said Mostyn.

It’s no secret that protests against wearing masks, social distancing and lockdowns are regularly greeted by police officers with handcuffs, ticket books, and police horses. Many opening restaurants or businesses have been hit with stiff fines.

“Throughout the stay-at-home order, police in Ontario have repeatedly fined organizers and attendees of anti-lockdown rallies,” said the release.

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So why not this time?

Toronto Police, and the city, were made aware of the concerns late Wednesday and have yet to comment.

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“Should these illegal protests continue, we expect local media to ask tough questions about why organizers are encouraging the public to break the law. Our doctors, nurses, and health care workers are exhausted beyond the breaking point,” said Mostyn. “In the interest of everyone’s safety, most Canadians, from all communities, have been respecting the local guidelines in place. We expect the authorities to enforce the law on a fair and equal basis.”

Palestine House board member Hammam Farah objected to the entire premise, telling the Toronto Sun “my aunt’s home was just bombed by Israeli war planes in Gaza, and you want me (to) comment on social distancing and allegations by a dishonest and discredited Israel lobby group of anti-Semitic comments by individuals at a large protest against Israeli ethnic cleansing and apartheid. I’m sure I speak for many in the Palestinian community, and as a board member of the Palestinian Canadian Community Centre, when I say this: LOL.”

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But B’nai Brith feels with rockets also falling on Israeli citizens, any “anti-Semitic” tone should be confronted, saying calls for “genocide against Jews, as well as other forms of hateful incitement must not” be tolerated “on the streets of Canada’s largest cities.”

Added Mostyn: “Politics should not be used as cover for failing to apply the rule of law to everyone equally.”

But throughout this lockdown things have not been fair. Small retailers are closed but big ones are not. Pubs and patios are closed but the LCBO and cannabis stores are open.

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Some protesters can gather in large numbers while others leading gatherings arrested.

Certainly, as Toronto gears up for this Saturday’s Freedom Rally at Queen’s Park, many will be watching to see if those protesters receive the same treatment as what happened Monday.

B’nai Brith feels if the system allows double standards, there will eventually be no standards at all.

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