Anti-Israel protest at York University turns violent

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At least one person was injured as attempts by an anti-Israel group to shut down an event at York University turned violent Wednesday night.

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Members of York’s Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) arrived at the university to disrupt a school-sanctioned panel discussion with Reservists on Duty, an organization of former members of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF.)

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Anti-Israel protest at York University turns violent Back to video

Calls to protest the arrival of the IDF members came from across the Internet, including the federal NDP candidate for York Simcoe, Jess McLean, who on Twitter denounced York for hosting the event and urged her followers to attend Wednesday’s SAIA counter-protest.

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Videos posted online show SAIA protesters — some concealing their faces with keffiyeh scarves — inside York’s Vari Hall loudly protesting the discussion, shouting pro-Palestine slogans and waving Palestine flags.

Another video features participants shouting “viva, viva Intifada.”

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Another video shows the two groups throwing punches and grappling in a stairwell until broken up by police.

The violence has sparked condemnation online, with B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn calling for York University to take action.

“Further investigation is required into how a registered student group was permitted to glorify terrorism and attempt to intimidate those peacefully assembling on campus,” he wrote on Twitter.

“There must be consequences for violent behaviour.”

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York Centre MPP and university alum Roman Baber likewise wants an investigation into what led to the violence.

“Make no mistake — this was not peaceful protest,” he said in a statement. “This was an attempt to shut down a university-sanctioned event, using violence and intimidation.”

He said he’s been in contact with both university administration and Toronto Police for an explanation, and is calling for the creation of a ‘concrete plan’ of ensuring the safety of the school’s Jewish students.

On Twitter, Premier Doug Ford expressed his disappointment with York University for allowing the ‘hate-filled protest,’ expressing his support both for Jewish students and the community.

“There is no place in Ontario for racism and hatred,” he tweeted.

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A Toronto Police spokesman said that while officers ejected a number of the combatants from the property, and at least one of the injured persons filed a police report, no charges were laid.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume