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Che and Jihad in Toronto

Jan 3, 2009 8:22 pm By Robert Spencer

DemoToronto.JPG
Hijabbed workers of the world, unite

CheToronto.JPG
“Darkness is coming”: ain’t it the truth

BenLadenBabyFinger.JPG
Huh?

Leftist/Jihadist Alliance Update: Jihad Watch reader Chatillon was at the pro-jihad demo in Toronto, and kindly sends in this report:

I took the time to witness the Palestinian demonstration in Toronto today. I was impressed with the organization that clearly went into it. I was also impressed by the evident presence of various trade unions and Marxist elements.

The demonstration started in front of the Israeli Consulate on Bloor Street, where it was met by a smaller yet sizable pro-Israeli counter-demonstration. For some reason the pro-Israel supporters left some time into the demonstration. The Palestinian protesters then moved on to the US Consulate on University Avenue.

I am an ex-pat American who has resided in Toronto for nearly twenty years. I’ve never seen Toronto like this. Complete with takbir [calls for the crowd to shout “Allahu akbar!”], the crowd was whipped into a frenzy by the organizers. Although I am a firm believer in free speech, I nevertheless somehow felt outraged by this display.

UPDATE: Jihad Watch reader Josephine was there also, and sends in this report:

I participated in the counter-protest at the anti-Israel rally in Toronto today. According to one news report, there were about 5,000 “Palestinian” supporters and 200-300 Israel supporters.

There was a large police presence. Many police officers on foot, on bicycle and on horse, acted as a barricade in the middle of the road. The “Palestinian” side kept pushing toward us. The roar of their hateful chants could be heard a full city block away. The women’s voices were slightly hysterical; the men’s voices were full of rage. Many of them, male and female, gave us “the finger” and said nasty things, while the people on our side sang beautiful Israeli songs and chanted, “Down, down with Hamas,” “God bless Israel”, “Go, go, IDF” and my favourite (from Wendy a.k.a. Girl on the Right), “Infidels for Israel” (it has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?). (Okay, a few on our side swore back at the rude people, but who can blame them?)

The hatred directed at us, fueled by fanaticism, an excess of testosterone in the young men, and adrenaline, was breathtaking. There were numerous Hamas and Hezbollah signs and, of course, the fashionable kaffiyeh was worn by many. I had a sense of unreality: Where was I today: Gaza? Beirut? Iran? I never thought this would ever happen in Canada. Feeling like Dorothy stuck in OZ, I said in disbelief to one of my companions: “We’re in Canada. We’re in Canada.” (“You’re not in Canada anymore, Jo.”)

I was told that CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) was one of the organizers of the anti-Israel protest. Sure enough, I ran into CUPE President Sid Ryan, sitting comfortably in the back of a coffee shop near the Israeli consulate. I spoke to him; he noted my Israeli flag and was quite unfriendly. My, he looks wealthy. Hey, CUPE members: your union dues hard at work, fomenting Jew-hatred and giving Sid Ryan a lovely gloss. Our conversation went like this:

Me (friendly): “You’re Sid Ryan!”

SR: “Yes, I am.” (No outstretched hand, no “pleased to meet you”.)

Me: “You’re with the rally today.”

SR: “Yes, that’s right.” Nods at my Israeli flag and says, “So are you, I take it.”

Me (smiling broadly and raising my flag): “Go, Israel!”

With that, I walked away.

The protest started at Dundas Square (Yonge and Dundas Streets) and moved to the Israeli consulate on Bloor Street (across from the Royal Ontario Museum). At Bloor St. and Avenue Road, the pro-Hamas crowd filled the entire intersection and spilled out onto three of the four streets. After we’d been on Bloor for a while, the police advised us to leave, saying they couldn’t guarantee our safety.

At first, I was disgusted by the “End the Occupation” signs. Didn’t those people know that Israel had withdrawn from Gaza in 2005? Then it dawned on me: of course they knew that. They weren’t talking about Gaza; they weren’t even talking about the “disputed territories”: they were talking about Israel. “Free, free Palestine” means “Jews out of Israel”. “End the Occupation” means “Jews out of Israel”.

Today was an unpleasant eye-opener for me and many others. Canada is changing and not for the better. Of course, I knew this, but coming face-to-face with 5,000 angry and potentially violent anti-Semites really brought the message home. I was reminded of your post, “Happy New Year. In 2009, let’s get louder.” If we are going to survive and win this war, we (even us nice, quiet, polite Canadians) will have to get a lot louder.

I took some video; I don’t know if anyone would be interested in seeing it. At the end, when they saw that we had to leave, the pro-Hamas side roared. It is quite noticeable on the tape.

I encouraged Josephine to post her video and hope to be able to put it up here soon.

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