(Jun. 5, 2026 \/ JNS)\n <\/p>\n
The annual \u201cWalk with Israel\u201d event slated for Sunday in Toronto will see enhanced police presence, including hate crime experts on the scene, amid an increase in anti-Jewish incidents across Canada, the Toronto Police Service said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important that Jewish community members, our allies and our children can walk safely and securely that day without being harassed by neighboring protesters,\u201d Sara Lefton, chief development officer at the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, which organizes the event, said at a Friday press conference.<\/p>\n
She cited an increase in anti-Jewish hate across the country, especially in Toronto. \u201cI think that we\u2019re feeling the reality of that hate every day,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re feeling increasingly isolated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lefton expects to see \u201crecord numbers of allies\u201d from outside the Jewish community supporting the event. which more than 56,000 people attended last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all Canadian, and we need to stand together against the kind of extremism and hate we\u2019re all facing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, Toronto deputy police chief Frank Barredo said at a press conference that last year, there was an arrest during the event. He expects \u201cmaybe 150, at the maximum\u201d protesters again this year, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have a plan in place to deal with that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Police officers have been in touch with protest groups \u201cto inform them of what will and what will not be tolerated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Barredo said that it is \u201ca bit of a blurry line between what is peaceful expression and what has crossed over into something that is hatefully criminal.\u201d There will be hate crime experts at the scene, who will be examining what is being said and the signage held by protesters, according to the deputy chief.<\/p>\n
Asked how many hate crimes from recent demonstrations have been prosecuted, Barredo said that \u201cthe numbers are probably low.\u201d <\/p>\n