New Brunswick MLA Dominic Cardy arrested at Toronto anti-Israel rally

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Dominic Cardy was arrested at an anti-Israel rally in Toronto for disturbing the peace, he said.

Cardy, who is the Progressive Conservative MLA for the constituency of Fredericton West-Hanwell, explained what happened to him Thursday evening in the city’s Yonge and Dundas area.

“I woke from a nap to hear hundreds of Hamas enthusiasts upset at (Hamas political leader Ismail) Haniyeh’s death,” he wrote on Friday morning, in a thread on social media platform X.

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“I chanted ‘Free Palestine – from Hamas.’ The crowd reacted poorly.”

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Cardy was asked to leave by Toronto police, but said he declined. He continued to chant “Free Palestine from Hamas,” which received more negative attention. It even got physical with some of the attendees kicking him, he said.

When police returned, Cardy told them, again, that he wouldn’t leave. He was arrested for “disturbing the peace,” although he pointed out that people at the rally were burning an Israeli flag a metre away from him.

“The police were professional and courteous. My complaint is not with them but with the political cowards who arrest peaceful democrats, and not the terror enthusiasts who seize our streets at will,” he said.

“This all in the name of ‘tolerance.’”

Cardy said he was held for a couple of hours before being released without charges or conditions. He said that he would not be avoiding future protests.

“No more standing by. It’s time for standing up. Step up against extremism. Defend our open society. Now,” he said.

Cardy’s arrest was confirmed by police in a statement to the National Post on Friday.

“This individual was arrested yesterday at a demonstration for Breach of the Peace and was subsequently released without charges. He was engaging in confrontational behaviour towards other demonstrators and failing to comply with police directives,” said a spokesperson for Toronto police via email.

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Many users commented on his posts, thanking Cardy for taking action. One person called the police in Canada “irreparably broken,” but Cardy disagreed. The problem is the politicians, he said, adding that the officers were simply taking orders.

“You can point out unjust orders through peaceful civil disobedience, as I did yesterday,” he said, “and hope (people) agree, and that orders change.”

Cardy’s wife Julie Smith said she was with her husband in Toronto for a “romantic long weekend,” in a post on X, but that it took an unusual turn.

“I will bring your ID down when you are cuffed in the back of a police car any time. Like my vows said – you and me against the world,” she said.

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Around 4:50 p.m. on Thursday, Toronto police were aware of the presence of a “demonstration,” as they called it on X. They alerted the public that the protest was causing major delays in the area and that no traffic could pass through.

Two other people were arrested on Thursday evening, Toronto police said on X.

One 23-year-old woman was charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer. A 31-year-old man was “was found to be in possession of a Prohibited Weapon at the time of arrest,” police said. He was charged with assaulting a peace officer and carrying a concealed weapon.

Anti-Israel protests have been held across the country since October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel.

In Toronto, protesters took over Yorkdale Shopping Centre in December 2023. In January, anti-Israel protesters gathered near Canada’s largest Jewish community at Avenue Road and Highway 401, blocking a highway overpass.

More recently, police foiled an alleged terror attack being planned by a father-son duo, reportedly on behalf of terrorist group ISIS.

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