Controversial anti-Israel rally gets go-ahead for Queen's Park

[Mosby]

TORONTO - Queen’s Park will continue to allow a controversial anti-Israel rally to be held on the lawn of the legislature on Saturday.

Approval comes despite an outcry from the Jewish community and a possible confrontation between Muslim demonstrators and a hard-line Jewish group.

A demonstration booked by an Islamic group marking Al-Quds Day, an annual international event started by former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini marking the end of Ramadan and calling for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state, has once again been given a green light, according to a press release provided to the Sun late Thursday.

The decision to let the rally go ahead, made by Speaker Dave Levac, came after a meeting Thursday morning between Levac, Sergeant-At-Arms Dennis Clark and a member of the Jewish community following “concerns that have been raised” in the media about the planned rally.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/16/meeting-could-put-toronto-anti-israeli-rally-in-question

[Mosby]

1. Iranians commemorate ‘Al-Quds Day’ by burning Israeli, US flags

Millions of people took to the streets at more than 500 demonstrations across Iran on Friday morning to commemorate International al-Quds Day, Iranian state television reported.

Waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Death to Israel”, Iranians participated in the annual show of solidarity with the Palestinians protesting Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, whose Arabic name is al-Quds. Iranian state television showed footage of Iranians burning Israeli and American flags.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used the event to call for the elimination of the “insult to all humanity,” that is Israel and said that confronting it is an effort to “protect the dignity of all human beings,” according to Army Radio.

Ahmadinejad reportedly went on to say that the very existence of the state of Israel is a crime against humanity, that “the Zionist regime is a tool to dominate the Middle East” and that the world powers are “thirsty for Iranian blood.”

The Iranian president further stated that International Quds Day is the day of unity among all human beings to remove the “Zionist black stain” from human society.

The annual event was initiated in 1979 by Ayatollah Khomeini and takes place on the last Friday of Ramadan, organized by the Iranian government.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iranians-commemorate-al-quds-day/

[atreides1]

2. Democracy is not always pretty

And sometimes people will disagree...but it's better then what so many others have!

[Swede]

3. The Jewish community should have a demonstration calling for the destruction of Iran.

[Ken Burch]

4. Well, Bibi's on the news every night pretty much calling for that anyway.

The guy knows that attacks on Iran would lead to massive blowback and probably end up destroying Iran AND Israel, but he doesn't care. All Netanyahu's about is his own Napoleonic delusions. Israelis need to be in the streets demanding his resignation.

[Swede]

5. I'm talking about a counter demonstation to the one in the OP.

nt

[King_David]

6. Replied to wrong post?

Because as usual , your post makes no sense in this thread .

[LeftishBrit]

7. No they shouldn't, and neither should this lot be doing it about Israel

But banning may do more harm than good in either case. I hope the demo is well policed.

[oberliner]

8. Jewish league to counter-protest anti-Zionist Al Quds rally in Queen’s Park

Toronto — Anti-Israel activists are slated to square off with counter-protesters at Queen’s Park on Saturday afternoon, with the Ontario legislature’s lawn divided north and south between the two opposing groups.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/08/18/jewish-league-to-counter-protest-al-quds-rally/

[King_David]

9. Was there,

Small crowd.

No major problems.

Shouting match between the 2 sides.

[Mosby]

10. thx for the info

What was the police presence like?

[King_David]

11. There were more police than demonstrators

They hardly let anyone cross lines at all.
Some demonstrators were picnicking with their families.
Was a beautiful day in a beautiful park.