Pro-Palestine protesters gather on Queen Street in downtown Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times)
Ahead of the protest, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said the rally, which had been planned to be held at the base of city hall, Nathan Phillips Square, was unsanctioned and wouldn’t be allowed to be held on the city grounds.
“I am receiving updates from the Chief of Police, who assures me they will investigate and address any suspected incidents of hate.”
Protesters gathered close to Nathan Phillips Square around 2 p.m. on Oct. 9, and a large segment of them crowded onto Queen Street in front of city hall. The protesters then walked toward Bay Street and other nearby streets.
Police were seen on the scene redirecting traffic. A police officer confirmed to The Epoch Times that the protesters didn’t have a permit to march on the street.
Protesters held Palestinian flags and signs in support of Palestine, and chanted slogans against Israel. Some were also seen with Communist Party of Canada flags.
Similar events have been held in other cities in Canada and other parts of the world following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7.
Police cars on the scene as pro-Palestine protesters gather in downtown Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times)
The attacks, which started in the early hours of Oct. 7, involved air strikes from Gaza into Israel, and the targeting of civilians on the streets in Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip. Terrorists also took as hostages members of the Israeli military as well as civilians, including women and children, and took them into the Gaza Strip.
In response, Israel declared a state of war on Oct. 7, and conducted air strikes on targets in Gaza.
Following a series of rallies celebrating the attacks in the Toronto area, Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a statement condemning the rallies on Oct. 8.
Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship, decried a similar event on Oct. 8 in Montreal, where he is from.