{"id":538380,"date":"2026-03-15T17:14:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T17:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/538380\/"},"modified":"2026-03-15T17:14:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T17:14:14","slug":"toronto-al-quds-rally-proceeds-after-judge-dismisses-fords-injunction-bid-to-stop-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/538380\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Al-Quds rally proceeds after judge dismisses Ford’s injunction bid to stop it"},"content":{"rendered":"

A judge has ‘dismissed’ the Ontario government\u2019s request to stop the Al-Quds Day rally in downtown Toronto, allowing it to proceed Saturday afternoon. <\/p>\n

The Al-Quds Day rally went ahead in downtown Toronto on Saturday afternoon after a judge dismissed the Ontario government\u2019s request for an injunction to prevent it from proceeding as planned.<\/p>\n

The decision came hours after the Ford government filed a last minute application seeking to block the annual rally, which got underway at 3 p.m. near the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue near Armoury Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe application for an interim interlocutory injunction is dismissed,\u201d Superior Court Justice Robert Centa said just after 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018An absurd attempt to abrogate our rights\u2019<\/p>\n

Stephen Ellis, the legal counsel for the Al-Quds Committee, which is one of the rally\u2019s organizers, said they are \u201cvery excited\u201d by the outcome of today\u2019s injunction, adding they were \u201cconfident that it wasn\u2019t going to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe expected that (the injunction) wouldn\u2019t succeed because it was an absurd attempt to abrogate our rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech so we\u2019re very, very happy. We\u2019re going to exercise our rights today and we\u2019re going to keep struggling until we have freedom in Palestine and everywhere else,\u201d he told CTV News Toronto shortly after the decision was announced.<\/p>\n

Ellis said there\u2019s never been any hate speech or violence at the rally and they\u2019d address it should that occur. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this for 30 years so if it ever happens we\u2019ll take care of it,\u201d he said, adding he believes this effort to stop today\u2019s rally was \u201c100 per cent politically motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Stephen Ellis, l-Quds rally lawyer Stephen Ellis is the legal counsel for the Al-Quds Committee, which is one of the Toronto rally\u2019s organizers. <\/p>\n

Ford, meanwhile, has responded to the judge\u2019s decision in a post on X.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d the Premier wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the judge cited Canada\u2019s 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 license to intimidate and hate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ford also said that it\u2019s \u201cunbelievable\u201d that the judge said Toronto police do not need an injunction to preserve the peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s the case, I fully expect that the police will immediately intervene at the first sign of hate, violence or glorification of terrorist organizations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t stop working to put an end to the hatred and division that runs too rampant on Canada\u2019s streets. I won\u2019t stop working to protect the greatest province in the greatest country in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

While the judge cited Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when we talk about rights we\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s rally, and an accompanying counter-demonstration, saw some tense moments and there was a heavy police presence.<\/p>\n

At 4 p.m., police announced the arrest of two people. They said more details will be provided in a media release at a later time.<\/p>\n

Late afternoon, Toronto police posted a statement along with a video on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Officers are on the ground today to uphold the right to demonstrate lawfully while holding those who engage in criminal activity\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/pYfa4welCy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) March 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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. Officers are on the ground today to uphold the right to demonstrate lawfully while holding those who engage in criminal activity accountable,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a heavy police presence in the downtown area today and our officers will be making arrests for anyone breaking the law. Interfering with officers performing their duties or engaging in violence or any criminal behavior will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Police presence Al-Quds rally March 14 There is a heavy police presence at the Al-Quds rally on March 14 in downtown Toronto. (TPS photo) Roads closed, transit routes affected by rally<\/p>\n

Several roads were closed due to the rally, including University between Dundas Street West and Queen Street, Bay Street between Dundas and Queen, Dundas from University to Bay, and Queen from Bay to University, but all reopened just before 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Service on the 505 Dundas streetcar route was suspended between Dundas at McCaul St and Dundas Street East at Church Street during the rally.<\/p>\n

\"\"Toronto Al-Quds rally March 14 An Al-Quds rally took place in downtown Toronto on March 14. (Natalie Johnson\/CTV News Toronto) <\/p>\n

With files from CP24\u2019s Bryann Aguilar and CTV News Toronto\u2019s Natalie Johnson<\/p>\n