A 33-year-old Newmarket was among three individuals arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest on the overpass at Avenue Road and Highway 401 Saturday afternoon, according to Toronto Police Service.
Police allege that individuals came to the overpass Jan. 13 at about 2 p.m. to participate in a demonstration, and when they refused to leave the bridge as requested by police, they were arrested and removed, a news release stated.
The arrests come in the wake of an announcement Jan. 11 by Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw that "demonstrating or congregating on the Avenue Road overpass will not be permitted and that people refusing to co-operate with police can expect to be arrested."
The chief had said previously that the pro-Palestinian protests at the Avenue Road and 401 bridge had become a threat to public safety and demonstrations would be banned to help deal with the intimidation and fear being felt by residents in the nearby predominantly Jewish neighbourhood.
Police say hate crime reports surged 42 per cent between 2022 and 2023, with antisemitic incidents accounting for 37 per cent of them.
Reports of hate crimes targeting Jewish people more than doubled from 65 in 2022 to 132 last year, while anti-Muslim, anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian hate crime reports nearly tripled from 12 to 35 over the same period.
The Avenue Road overpass remained open to traffic while demonstrators were removed, police said.
Cyrus Reynolds, 33, of Newmarket, has been charged with mischief and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Feb. 26.
Also arrested is Hesham Aly, 36, of Toronto and Ali Nasser, 26, of Mississauga, both charged with obstruct peace officer. They are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Feb. 29.
