A judge has “dismissed” the Ontario government’s request for an injunction to stop the Al-Quds Day rally in downtown Toronto, allowing the demonstration to proceed as planned Saturday afternoon.

This decision came hours after the Ford government filed an application seeking to block the annual rally, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. near the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue.

“The application for an interim interlocutory injunction is dismissed,” Superior Court Justice Robert Centa said.

“I am not satisfied that the Attorney General of Ontario has met the test for a injunction to prevent all persons from engaging in the Al Quds Day protest.”

‘An absurd attempt to abrogate our rights’

Stephen Ellis, the legal counsel for the Al-Quds Committee, which is one of the rally’s organizers, said they are “very excited” by the outcome of today’s injunction, saying they were “confident that it wasn’t going to succeed.”

“We expected that (the injunction) wouldn’t succeed because it was an absurd attempt to abrogate our rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech so we’re very, very happy. We’re going to exercise our rights today and we’re going to keep struggling until we have freedom in Palestine and everywhere else,” he told CTV News Toronto shortly after the decision was announced.

Ellis said there’ never been any hate speech or violence at the rally and they’d address it if that occurred.

“We’ve been doing this for 30 years so if it ever happens we’ll take care of it,” he said, adding he believes this effort to stop today’s rally was “100 per cent politically motivated.”

Stephen Ellis, l-Quds rally lawyer Stephen Ellis is the legal counsel for the Al-Quds Committee, which is one of the Toronto rally’s organizers.

Ford, meanwhile, has responded to the decision with a post on X.

“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,” the Premier wrote.

“While the judge cited Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when we talk about rights we need to be clear that every person has the right to safety and security. We need to be clear that no one in Canada has the right to incite violence or free licence to intimidate and hate.”

Form also said that it’s “unbelievable” that the judge said Toronto police “do not need an injunction to preserve the peace.

“If that’s the case, I fully expect that the police will immediately intervene at the first sign of hate, violence or glorification of terrorist organizations,” he said.

“I won’t stop working to put an end to the hatred and division that runs too rampant on Canada’s streets. I won’t stop working to protect the greatest province in the greatest country in the world.”

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.

While the judge cited Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when we talk about rights we…

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 14, 2026

This is a breaking news update. An earlier version of the story continues below.

Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford confirmed to CP24 that the province would file the injunction at noon in an attempt to prevent the demonstration from going ahead.

Ford has argued the event should not be allowed to proceed.

“This demonstration is nothing more than a breeding ground for hate and antisemitism. It glorifies violence. It celebrates terrorism. It has no place in Ontario. It has no place in Canada,” Ford said in a video posted to social media on Friday.

This afternoon, I’ve instructed my Attorney General to pursue an injunction against the Al-Quds Day demonstration planned for Toronto.

Hate, violence and intimidation have no place on the streets of Canada and our government will fight it however we can. pic.twitter.com/5QbvxxpxOg

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 13, 2026

The premier added that police should intervene if there are signs of hate, violence or the glorification of terrorist organizations.

“I believe deeply in our fundamental freedom of speech. But nobody in this province has the right to incite violence, and no one has a free license to hate. We won’t stand for it.”

Lawyers representing the rally organizers previously said they were confident the government would not succeed in obtaining an injunction.

Stephen Ellis, legal counsel for the organizers, told CTV News Toronto Friday that the province would not be able to demonstrate that the event poses a threat.

“They’re not going to be able to convince a judge that our march is going to pose a threat to anyone. You have to show some kind of evidence. And they’ve got nothing,” Ellis said.

He also said the demonstration would remain peaceful.

“This demonstration takes place every year, and what it’s about is that it’s a commemoration of the Palestinian struggle for their freedom.”

Toronto police have said they are preparing for the demonstration regardless of the legal challenge.

On Thursday, Supt. Craig Young said officers would activate a “major incident command centre” and deploy additional resources around the U.S. Consulate.

Craig Young Supt. Craig Young, who oversees Emergency Management and Public Order speaks to media on Thursday March 12, 2026 (CP24 photo).

“We have stepped up our resources around the United States Consulate. We do have a specific plan in place for Saturday to protect the U.S. Consulate, and I will leave it at that for now,” Young said.

Police say their focus will be maintaining public order while allowing demonstrators and counter-protesters to exercise their rights.

With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar and CTV News Toronto’s Natalie Johnson…