"Readers might think that the two people who got arrested are linked to the Pro-Palestine protest, but it is not entirely the case. As reported in a CP24/CTV News article, 'Twenty-five year-old Jack Antonio Di Tomasso of Toronto has been arrested and charged with mischief, and 61-year-old David Menzies of Richmond Hill has been arrested and charged with obstruct to a peace officer and breach of peace bond'."
March 19, 2024
To:
Maan Alhmidi, Reporter, Canadian Press
Andrea Baillie, Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Press
Tim Cook, Managing Editor, Canadian Press
Dear Maan Alhmidi, Andrea Baillie, and Tim Cook,
I am writing to express my concern about the article: “Toronto police make arrest as pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside Trudeau event,” published in a lot of media outlets, such as Penticton Herald, the Chronicle journal, St Catharine’s Standard, Cornwall Seaway News, City News Kitchener, CP24, CTV News Toronto, Pique Newsmagazine, and Lakeland Today on March 15.
There are two main issues in the article.
First, the title is misleading. Readers might think that the two people who got arrested are linked to the Pro-Palestine protest, but it is not entirely the case.
As reported in a CP24/CTV News article, “Twenty-five year-old Jack Antonio Di Tomasso of Toronto has been arrested and charged with mischief, and 61-year-old David Menzies of Richmond Hill has been arrested and charged with obstruct to a peace officer and breach of peace bond.”
It is unclear if Jack Antonio Di Tomasso is a pro-Palestine protester. However, David Menzies is the host anchor of Rebel News, a far-right news outlet, and he was allegedly at the protest to “ask questions” to protesters.
In a Winnipeg Sun article, it is reported that Menzies has been arrested multiple times prior because of his interactions with Liberal and Conservative politicians. His latest arrestation was in January outside of Richmond Hill, Ontario, where it hosted an event with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
I, therefore, ask you to change the title and add this information to not depict pro-Palestine protests and protesters falsely, unfairly, and negatively.
Here is a short list of suggestions for titles from media outlets that have shared Canadian Press’ developments regarding this story:
- Rebel News reporter one of two arrested at protest that delayed Trudeau event, published on March 16 in the National Post
- Rebel News host among two arrested at protest that delayed Trudeau event, published on March 16 in Winnipeg Sun
- Police arrest two at protest outside Trudeau event, including Rebel News host, published on March 16 in Toronto Star
- Police arrest two at protest that delayed Trudeau event, including Rebel News host, published on March 16 in Global News
Second, unfortunately, the article makes it all about the arrests and not the intentions of the pro-Palestine protest and protesters in the broader context of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.
You write: “Protest organizers had earlier promised to disrupt the event at the King Edward Hotel, insisting in a statement that the Liberal Party of Canada could not proceed with “business as usual” amid the Israel-Hamas war.”
A Global News’ News segment and a CTV News Toronto News segment reported some of protesters’ intentions:
- Demand a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict
- According to Yara Shoufani, a demonstrator: “The Prime Minister thinks that it is appropriate to host a fundraising event with 1700$ tickets for purchase while his government continues to send arms to Israel on month 6 of this ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
- According to Shoufani, “We are demanding that the Liberal party, that the Canadian government stops selling arms to Israel and to call on the Israeli government to lift the siege on Gaza which has been ongoing for 16 years and turning Gaza into an open-air prison. […] While this genocide continues, while the Canadian government continues to send arms to Israel, we will not allow the Liberal Party to fundraise MPs.”
- According to Morteza Gorgzadeh, another demonstrator, “That’s why we are here to say Justin Trudeau you are complicit in the ongoing genocide in Rafah, Gaza.”
- According to Gur Tsabar, a pro-Palestinian protestor, it is to call for an arms embargo, and a meaningful ceasefire.
I, therefore, ask you to add more voice to protesters to properly assert their intentions amidst Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
I hope Canadian Press will make these changes and report on pro-Palestine protests fairly and accurately in the future.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East