Toronto police make two arrests on Saturday after court denies injunction to stop Al-Quds rally in Toronto
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote in an X post on Saturday afternoon that he expects “the police to immediately intervene at the first sign of hate, violence or glorification of terrorist organizations” at the Saturday afternoon Al-Quds rally in downtown Toronto.
I am extremely disappointed that the court has refused to put a stop to Al-Quds Day, which has long been a venue for antisemitism, hatred, intimidation and the glorification of terrorism.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 14, 2026
While the judge cited Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when we talk about rights we…
Toronto police say they “ are on the ground today to uphold the right to demonstrate lawfully while holding those who engage in criminal activity accountable. ”
The rights to assembly and free expression are fundamental here in Canada, but there are laws that must be adhered to, and we will enforce them.
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) March 14, 2026
Officers are on the ground today to uphold the right to demonstrate lawfully while holding those who engage in criminal activity… pic.twitter.com/pYfa4welCy
Tensions between protesters and counter-protesters erupted early, with the police moving in to make an arrest for a demonstration-related offence shortly before 3 p.m., and a second arrest an hour later.
Toronto Police are starting to arrest people at the American Consulate downtown Toronto pic.twitter.com/FzKS51OlbW
— Israel Now (@neveragainlive1) March 14, 2026
More information about the arrests was promised in Toronto police X posts.
DEMONSTRATION: (UPDATE)
— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) March 14, 2026
ADDITIONAL ARREST
University Avenue & Armoury Street
3:51
- A second arrest has been made
- More information to be provided by way of media release at a later time
Earlier in the afternoon Ontario judge Robert Centa denied the provincial government’s attempt to obtain a court injunction to shut it down.
The dismissal of the request arrived less than an hour before the Al-Quds Day rally in downtown Toronto was scheduled to begin. Similar rallies are planned for other Canadian cities.
Ford expressed disappointment with Centa’s decision in his social media post: “ I am extremely disappointed that the court has refused to put a stop to Al-Quds Day, which has long been a venue for antisemitism, hatred, intimidation and the glorification of terrorism.”
Ontario’s lawyers were grilled during the Saturday afternoon hearing as they argued the protest was a forum for antisemitism and should be shut down given heightened tensions that have arisen around the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and recent shoot-ups of three Toronto synagogues and the U.S. Consulate.
On Friday Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that he had instructed the provincial Attorney General to seek a court injunction against the Al-Quds Day rally.
“This afternoon, I’ve instructed my Attorney General to pursue an injunction against the Al-Quds Day demonstration planned for Toronto,” he wrote in an X post on Friday. “Hate, violence and intimidation have no place on the streets of Canada and our government will fight it however we can.”
Organizers have promoted the event as a call against against war on Iran and Lebanon and contended the injunction was an attempt to silence anti-Israel advocacy and criticism of Israel. A lawyer for the organizers noted during the injunction hearing that they have coordinated the event with police, adding there is no evidence of charges against demonstrators during past Al-Quds rallies.
Meanwhile police have cited heightened tensions in Toronto and provided an extensive presence, particularly in front of the American Consulate this afternoon.
We have a heavy police presence in the downtown area today and our officers will be making arrests for anyone breaking the law.
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) March 14, 2026
Interfering with officers performing their duties or engaging in violence or any criminal behavior will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/C3b80ZxVYJ
Al-Quds Day was established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini following the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Its stated goal is to express solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israel’s control of Jerusalem but the global events regularly feature calls for the destruction of Israel and the deaths of Israelis while expressing support for the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a terrorist group banned in Canada.
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