Police in Toronto, Ontario were caught hand-delivering a can of hot Tim Horton's coffee to Hamas supporters on Saturday who were blocking a bridge near a Jewish neighbourhood. Coffee was brought to the bridge by protesters who were not allowed to join the blockade. Two policemen took coffee and a bag of snacks and delivered them to Hamas supporters who blocked the bridge.
Laura Brabant, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, posted twice on X Twitter to defend coffee deliveries to anti-Semitic terror supporters:
“Our officers are managing a dynamic situation. By doing useful work today, our officer's motive was to help keep tensions low and should not be construed as a show of support for any cause or group. Our officers continue to work to calm these demonstrations.”
And the:
“Officers in Toronto are often publicly criticized for the harsh tactics used during demonstrations. Today, given the very dynamic situation, officers have continued to work to calm these demonstrations and maintain calm and public safety.
Our officers manage the dynamic situation.
By doing useful work today, our officer's motive was to help keep tensions low and should not be construed as a show of support for any cause or group.
Our officers continue to work to calm these demonstrations https://t.co/iQUcfacteo– Laura Brabant (@LBrabant_TPS) January 6, 2024
Officers in Toronto are often publicly criticized for harsh tactics used during demonstrations.
Today, given the very dynamic situation, officers continued to work to calm these demonstrations and maintain calm and public safety– Laura Brabant (@LBrabant_TPS) January 7, 2024
Toronto Police had previously announced the closure of roads to Hamas demonstrators:
Road closure:
The upper Avenue Road/401 is not accessible from Wilson Street or Bombay Street until further notice.
^ M— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) January 6, 2024
Liberal MP Marco Mendicino, who represents the protest area, criticized the police, saying: “Regardless of good intentions, police offering coffee and food to protesters will only encourage more deliberate obstruction of traffic, undermine public safety, and increase local frustrations.” Laws exist to prevent this. It must be enforced!…Given the ongoing unrest, the City should consider using section s.214.1 under the Highway Traffic Code to designate a community safety zone at the intersection of Route 401 and Avenue Road, and other neighborhoods that may have been affected. “
Given the ongoing unrest, the city should consider using Section 214.1 under the Highway Traffic Code to designate a community safety zone at the intersection of Route 401 and Avenue Road, and other neighborhoods that may have been affected.
-Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) January 6, 2024
Fellow Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also criticized police, saying: “For police to bring food and coffee to protesters in the current context of protests in Toronto was a very poor decision by @TorontoPolice. Unless the goal is to further undermine confidence in the way the force deals with demonstrations.”
Having police bring food and coffee to protesters in the current context of protests in Toronto was a very bad decision before @TorontoPolice . Unless the goal is to further undermine confidence in the way the force deals with demonstrations.
-Anthony Housefather (AHousefather) January 6, 2024
Karima Saad posted several videos from the protest, including a coffee delivery video. Sample below.
In a scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian, the protesters demanded bathroom privileges from the police, which were not granted:
High-stakes negotiations between protesters and police over access to bathrooms on the blocked bridge. #cdnpoli #Toronto #Palestine #Israel #Gaza #Protest mania pic.twitter.com/c8V7mCV9Z4
– Carima Saad – lawyer + political satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
However, the police allowed a Hamas supporter to throw away a sign that reflected poorly on the protesters:
This unwanted sign was: pic.twitter.com/04TmdgbpKT
– Carima Saad – lawyer + political satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
The protesters eventually agreed not to close the bridge:
The police agreed to reopen the flyover, and the demonstrators agreed to remain on one side while sticking to the sidewalk. #cdnpoli #Toronto #Palestine #Israel #Gaza #Protest mania pic.twitter.com/UfC77xPE6z
– Carima Saad – lawyer + political satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant attacked the police, saying: “It's not actually the pro-Hamas extremists who are blocking the way in and out of the Jewish community. It's the police who are preventing Jews from moving. They are also delivering food and drinks to Hamas. The Toronto police are not worthy of “Respect. They are unprofessional and unethical.”
In fact, it is not pro-Hamas extremists who are blocking the way in and out of the Jewish community. It is the police that prevents Jews from moving.
They also deliver food and drinks to Hamas.
Toronto police do not deserve respect. They are unprofessional and unethical. https://t.co/MjRfrfrn24
– Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) January 6, 2024