Police in Toronto, Ontario have been caught on video hand-delivering a to-go field of scorching Tim Horton’s espresso to Hamas supporters on Saturday who have been blocking a bridge close to a Jewish neighborhood. The espresso was dropped at the bridge by protesters who weren’t allowed to hitch the blockade. Two police took the espresso and a bag of snacks and delivered them to the Hamas supporters blocking the bridge.
Laura Brabant, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, posted twice on X Twitter to defend the espresso supply to the anti-Semitic terrorist supporters:
“Our officers are managing a dynamic situation. In performing a helpful act today, our officer’s motivation was to help keep tensions low and should not be interpreted as showing support for any cause or group. Our officers continue to work to de-escalate these demonstrations”
And:
“Officers in Toronto are often publicly criticized for heavy handed tactics used during demonstrations. Today, given a very dynamic situation, officers continued to work to de-escalate these demonstrations and maintain calm and the public’s safety”
Our officers are managing a dynamic state of affairs.
In performing a useful act at this time, our officer’s motivation was to assist maintain tensions low and shouldn’t be interpreted as displaying assist for any trigger or group.
Our officers proceed to work to de-escalate these demonstrations https://t.co/iQUcfacteo— Laura Brabant (@LBrabant_TPS) January 6, 2024
Officers in Toronto are sometimes publicly criticized for heavy handed ways used throughout demonstrations.
At this time, given a really dynamic state of affairs, officers continued to work to de-escalate these demonstrations and preserve calm and the general public’s security— Laura Brabant (@LBrabant_TPS) January 7, 2024
Toronto Police had earlier introduced street closures for the Hamas demonstrators:
Highway closure:
No entry to the Avenue Highway/401 overpass from Wilson Ave or Bombay Ave till additional discover.
^lm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) January 6, 2024
Liberal MP Marco Mendicino, who represents the world of the protest, criticized police, posting, “Good intentions aside, police serving coffee and food to protestors will just embolden more deliberate obstruction of traffic, undermine public safety, and add to local frustrations. Laws exist to prevent this. They need to be enforced!…Given the persistent disturbances, the City should look at using s.214.1 under the Highway Traffic Act to designate a community safety zone at the intersection of 401 & Avenue Rd, and other neighbourhoods that may have been impacted.”
Given the persistent disturbances, the Metropolis ought to take a look at utilizing s.214.1 underneath the Freeway Site visitors Act to designate a group security zone on the intersection of 401 & Avenue Rd, and different neighbourhoods which will have been impacted.
— Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) January 6, 2024
Fellow Liberal MP Anthony Housefather additionally criticized police, “Police bringing food and coffee to demonstrators in the current context of the protests in Toronto was a very poor decision by @TorontoPolice. Unless the goal is to further undermine confidence in the way the force is handling the demonstrations.”
Police bringing meals and low to demonstrators within the present context of the protests in Toronto was a really poor determination by @TorontoPolice . Except the aim is to additional undermine confidence in the best way the drive is dealing with the demonstrations.
— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) January 6, 2024
Caryma Sa’d posted many movies from the protest, together with the espresso supply video. A pattern under.
In a scene out of Monty Python’s Lifetime of Brian, demonstrators demanded lavatory privileges from police, which weren’t granted:
Excessive stakes negotiations between protesters and police over washroom entry on blocked bridge. #cdnpoli #Toronto #Palestine #Israel #Gaza #ProtestMania pic.twitter.com/c8V7mCV9Z4
— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
Nonetheless, one Hamas supporter was allowed by police to ditch an indication that mirrored poorly on the protesters:
This was the undesirable signal: pic.twitter.com/04TmdgbpKT
— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
Protesters finally agreed to not block the bridge:
Police agreed to reopen the overpass bridge, and protesters agreed to remain on one facet whereas holding to the sidewalk. #cdnpoli #Toronto #Palestine #Israel #Gaza #ProtestMania pic.twitter.com/UfC77xPE6z
— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
Insurgent Information writer Ezra Levant ripped police, “It’s not actually the pro-Hamas extremists who are blocking the road in and out of the Jewish community. It’s the police blocking the Jews for Hamas. They’re also delivering food and drinks to Hamas. Toronto Police do not deserve respect. They are unprofessional and unethical.”
It’s not really the pro-Hamas extremists who’re blocking the street out and in of the Jewish group. It’s the police blocking the Jews for Hamas.
They’re additionally delivering meals and drinks to Hamas.
Toronto Police don’t deserve respect. They’re unprofessional and unethical. https://t.co/MjRfrfrn24
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) January 6, 2024