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‍Toronto, ON (August 24, 2026) – What happened at Bathurst and Sheppard this weekend was blatant antisemitism.

An individual who is reportedly a university instructor stood in a Jewish neighbourhood and repeated some of the oldest and most vile lies and conspiracy theories about Jews – accusing Jews of using “black magic,” raping, murdering, and eating children. These are antisemitic blood libels that have been used for centuries to justify hatred and violence against Jews.

For far too long, Bathurst and Sheppard has been a regular site of antisemitic harassment, intimidation, and provocation, too often under the guise of antizionism. We have seen how anti-Israel hate is being used to legitimize hostility toward Jewish Canadians, with increasingly dangerous consequences. When this behaviour is allowed to continue without meaningful consequences, the message is that targeting Jews in this way is acceptable.

It is not.

Toronto Police must investigate this incident and, where the law has been broken, charges must follow. There must be consequences for those who repeatedly use public demonstrations as cover to spread hatred, incitement and target Toronto’s Jewish community.

Allowing this behaviour to go unchecked is to normalize antisemitism as an everyday feature of life in this city.