An Al-Quds Day rally took place near the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on Saturday after a judge rejected an attempt by the Ontario government to block the event.
An Ontario Superior Court of Justice judge dismissed the request for an injunction filed by the province’s attorney general, allowing the demonstration to proceed as planned.
The court decision came after Doug Ford and two Toronto city councillors called for the rally to be stopped. Ford had urged legal action on social media, describing the event as a potential “breeding ground for hate and antisemitism.”
Despite the attempt to block it, protesters gathered near the United States Consulate General Toronto and continued with the rally.
Stephen Ellis said participants were relieved by the court’s decision. He criticized the effort to stop the rally, calling it a politically motivated move against their rights.
Ellis said organizers were confident the injunction would fail and argued that freedom of expression and protest must be protected.
The judge indicated that further details explaining the ruling would be released later.
The annual Al-Quds Day rally is held in several cities around the world and often sparks political debate due to its strong positions on Middle East issues.