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Deputy Toronto Police Chief Lauren Pogue said at a news conference Friday that police were confronted by “a very hostile crowd who actually assaulted our officers,” including a police horse, at a pro-Palestinian street protest last weekend. Pogue detailed how their concerns aren’t with the whole protest movement, but with a group of repeat agitators who continually ignore police warnings to follow the law.
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The group that organized the protest — the Palestinian Youth Movement — sees it differently. They gave a news conference earlier this week accusing the force of “police brutality” and called to defund the police.
One should hope that Toronto council recognizes the challenges police face in a city with rising crime and public disorder. One should also hope that council would recognize that the public is now supportive of law and order issues being addressed.
This means, at the very least, that council would reserve judgment on the outrageous accusations made against our officers. But six councillors decided to make the boneheaded move of releasing a public statement that effectively sides with the protesters, with zero indication that they disagree with the calls to defund the police or that the police engaged in brutality.
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“In recent days, hundreds of residents have shared their concerns with our offices regarding their experiences during a march recognizing Land Day in downtown Toronto on March 30,” the letter begins. It was signed by councillors Amber Morley, Lily Cheng, Paula Fletcher, Gord Perks, Ausma Malik and Alejandra Bravo — most of them being key allies of Mayor Olivia Chow.
It continues: “Freedom of assembly is a protected right in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In these difficult times of heightened tension in the world and Toronto, these rights must be protected as part of our democratic society. It is deeply concerning to hear residents voicing fears about their freedom to engage in protests, demonstrations, and large gatherings.”
We have had six months of ongoing protests in this city. None of the participants have had their democratic rights violated. And the video evidence that is available tells us that claims of “brutality” are just incorrect. Deputy Chief Pogue made it clear that police were simply enforcing laws after giving protesters repeated warnings.
One police officer told me that the document was a “malicious letter that is beyond outrageous.” Another senior officer said the letter was “upsetting a lot of our folks.”
No wonder officers are upset. Whether it’s the rise in violent car thefts, the growing drug crisis or policing protests that have on too many occasions descended into unlawful conduct and anti-Semitism, our officers are trying to do more and more with insufficient resources.
No wonder we have a retention problem with officers looking to move to other jurisdictions. And then along come these six councillors to kick them when they’re down.
We know that other councillors were asked to sign this and declined. Clearly not all of council supports this stunt.
What’s worse, though, is that Amber Morley and Lily Cheng both sit on the police services board. It’s inappropriate for them to sign such an open letter. While it’s important for board members to be a voice for police accountability, this is not the way to go about it. This goes a step too far. They need to resign from the police board.
This may prove politically damaging to these two rookie councillors, who both represent swing ridings — Morley’s ward is Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Cheng is in Willowdale. The “defund the police” antics aren’t that popular in those areas.
Toronto residents support the right to protest but also understand the challenges the police are now facing. The last thing these councillors should be doing is attacking officers for doing their job.
-Anthony Furey is a former national columnist for the Toronto Sun and recent Toronto mayoral candidate.
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FUREY: Councillors throw Toronto cops under bus for doing their job
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05.04.2024
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Deputy Toronto Police Chief Lauren Pogue said at a news conference Friday that police were confronted by “a very hostile crowd who actually assaulted our officers,” including a police horse, at a pro-Palestinian street protest last weekend. Pogue detailed how their concerns aren’t with the whole protest movement, but with a group of repeat agitators who continually ignore police warnings to follow the law.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
The group that organized the protest — the Palestinian Youth Movement — sees it differently. They gave a news conference earlier this week accusing the force of “police brutality” and called to defund the police.
One should hope that Toronto council recognizes the challenges police face in a city with rising crime and public disorder. One should also hope that council would recognize that the public is now supportive of law and order issues being addressed.
This means, at the very least, that council would........
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