"I ask you to add mention of their statement and the reasons they chose this overpass: its proximity, high visibility, and sidewalks, which would be more complete and accurate. Good reporting on this issue would include this information and report on Pro-Palestine protests and intentions in a fair, complete, and accurate way."
February 6, 2024
To:
Ben Cohen, Staff Reporter, Toronto Star
Anne Marie Owens, Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star
Dear Ben Cohen and Anne Marie Owens,
I am writing to express concern about the article, “Judge dismisses B’nai Brith injunction against 401 bridge protesters,” published on February 5 in Toronto Star.
You write:
B'nai Brith and other Jewish organizations have argued that, since the bridge is steps from Jewish community centres and places of worship, the pro-Palestinian protests held there were designed to intimidate Jews in the area.
Protest organizers told the Star this is not their intent. The bridge overlooking the highway, they say, is not linked to any particular group and the demonstrations they held there were part of a series of dozens of bridge protests across the country.”
I strongly believe the article should have provided more information about the protest organizers and their intentions.
The organizers of the protests released a press statement on January 8, “Eglinton-Lawrence & Don Valley 4 Palestine,” which makes clear that the protests are in no way targeting Jewish people or even taking place in the location because it is a “Jewish neighborhood.”
The organizers write:
We are exercising our right to peaceful assembly in our own neighborhood by attending recent rallies at 401 @ Avenue, a busy overpass and intersection with high visibility and sidewalks. We are NOT protesting in this intersection because of its “high Jewish population.” We are protesting because of its accessibility to us and its visibility. […] It should be noted that this action follows the model of similar 401 banner drops organized in solidarity with Ukraine – actions that raised no similar objections.
The press statement also shows that the protests at Avenue Road were in their neighborhood and that the overpass was chosen because of its high visibility and sidewalks.
I, therefore, ask you to add mention of their statement and the reasons they chose this overpass: its proximity, high visibility, and sidewalks, which would be more complete and accurate.
Good reporting on this issue would include this information and report on Pro-Palestine protests and intentions in a fair, complete, and accurate way.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East