MP Speaks Out Against Intimidating Protest
Conservative Member of Parliament Melissa Lantsman has strongly condemned an anti-Israel demonstration that took place in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in Toronto on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The protest occurred in the Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue area, which is home to many Jewish residents and institutions.
Melissa Lantsman stated on social media platform X that protesters were deliberately targeting a residential Jewish community rather than official Israeli institutions. The Consulate General of Israel is located approximately a 30-minute drive south at Yonge and Bloor Streets, making the protest's location in a Jewish neighbourhood particularly concerning.
Targeting Holocaust Survivors' Synagogue
The demonstration took place in front of the Lodzer Centre Congregation, a synagogue with deep historical significance. This synagogue was founded in the 1950s by Polish Holocaust survivors, adding another layer of sensitivity to the protest's location.
In her social media post, Lantsman emphasized that the protest had nothing to do with normal political demonstration. She noted that most participants were masked and specifically chose to march through a residential Jewish community. The MP criticized both the Toronto Police for allowing the protest to proceed and other politicians for remaining silent about what she characterized as intimidation tactics.
Community Response and Ongoing Concerns
Video footage captured by lawyer and independent journalist Caryma Sa'd showed protesters carrying Palestinian flags while wearing masks and keffiyehs covering their faces. The video also documented strong reactions from local residents, with one man shouting from his car, Get out of my neighbourhood and a woman driving by yelling Shame! at the demonstrators.
Toronto police presence included officers on bicycles and two patrol cars following the protesters. Despite a ceasefire being reached in the Middle East conflict last month, such protests have continued in Toronto. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) had previously identified a November 9 protest as intended to intimidate the Jewish community.
According to Josh Landau, the director of government relations in Ontario for CIJA, Canada has experienced a disturbing escalation in extremist rhetoric, intimidation, and violence. He emphasized that this situation is not about overseas events but about violent extremism taking root within Canada itself. Toronto police confirm that similar protests have been ongoing since the previous year.
