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The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns the systemic anti-Palestinian racism exhibited by the Toronto police, particularly through the actions of its Hate Crimes Unit. This unit, under the guise of combating hate crimes, has engaged in surveillance, night raids, and unjust arrests targeting the Palestinian solidarity movement. Such actions fail to acknowledge Palestinians as an integral part of Canadian society, with the right to express their political views and advocate for justice without fear of reprisal. This pattern of behavior is not isolated but is part of a broader issue of structural racism and colonial violence within Canadian policing.

"This targeted policing not only ignores the legitimate grievances and rights of Palestinians but also reproduces the very settler-colonial violence and racial trauma that many have fled to escape," said Jamila Ewais, lead researcher for the ARPCF. By criminalizing peaceful protests and political expression, the Toronto police are perpetuating a narrative that paints pro-Palestinian activism as illegitimate and threatening to national security. This unjust portrayal is not new: for decades, the Palestinian liberation movement has been delegitimized by Canada, which in turn engenders the smearing and delegitimization of peaceful activism.

The tactics employed by the police, such as pre-dawn raids, are reminiscent of authoritarian practices used in conflict zones, which is deeply traumatic for those who have already experienced such violence. Moreover, these tactics are used by the police when arresting someone for criminal offenses, indicating that the police have only one strategy for dealing with pro-Palestine voices: heavy-handed criminalization. These actions suggest a dehumanizing view of Palestinians, treating them as a group that can be brutalized and denied basic human rights based on their identity and the ongoing suffering in Palestine.  Similar patterns of violence against Black and Indigenous communities highlight the pervasive structural racism within Canadian society, where racialized groups are disproportionately affected by police violence and systemic failures across various sectors.

The ARPCF calls for an immediate end to these discriminatory practices and for an independent investigation into the actions of the Hate Crimes Unit. The ARPCF calls for: the immediate disbanding of Project Resolute, the reassignment of Hate Crimes Unit officers involved in these actions, and the establishment of an independent civilian oversight body to monitor and review police conduct in relation to protests and racialized communities. Additionally, the ARPCF calls for comprehensive training on anti-Palestinian racism for all police officers, and mandatory reporting on police actions against racialized and Indigenous communities.

About the ARPCF – The mandate of the Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is to create public awareness about racism in Canada.  This mandate falls in line with the Foundation’s broader purpose of monitoring and combating manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination by increasing public awareness of such biases.

For more information, please contact Jamila Ewais, 514-389-8668
ARPCF, [email protected]  www.cjpmefoundation.org

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