Mount Sinai Hospital Protest: Police Investigate

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday called a demonstration outside Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital under police investigation a “reprehensible” display of anti-Semitism.

Toronto police have confirmed they are investigating “multiple incidents” outside a downtown hospital founded by Toronto's Jewish community.

In an internal email to hospital staff obtained by CTV News Toronto on Tuesday, Mount Sinai President and CEO Dr. Gary Newton said participants climbed poles outside the building during a demonstration on University Avenue Monday evening.

In response, the police force is increasing its presence at the hospital, while Mount Sinai and Hennick Bridgepoint are beefing up security. Newton also said the hospital's University Avenue entrance will be closed after 6 p.m. on weekdays and completely closed on weekends.

“Interfering with hospital operations is unacceptable,” Toronto police said, urging anyone who saw or experienced harassment to come forward.

“As we've said before, officers use their discretion during large crowds and even if it's not considered safe to make an arrest at the time, investigations will continue and charges may be filed at a later date.”

On Tuesday, Trudeau posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, in response to the outcry. “Hospitals are places of treatment and care, not of protest and intimidation,” he said.

“I strongly condemn this manifestation of anti-Semitism. In Toronto and across Canada, we stand together with the Jewish community against this hatred.”

Premier Doug Ford was asked about the demonstration at Tuesday's event and referred to the fact that it is illegal in Canada to protest outside a hospital.

The federal government introduced Bill C-3 in 2021, which amended the Criminal Code to protect health workers by making it illegal to intimidate or obstruct access to health care.

“Don't break the law because that's exactly what happened. You broke the law,” Ford said. “But even if there's no law, you've got to have some decency.”

Mayor Olivia Chow also weighed in on Monday night's protests outside the hospital, calling the incidents “unacceptable.”

“The hospital is a holy place, a place of healing for all. My family has a long history with Mount Sinai. My father passed there, my late husband and I were treated for cancer there,” Chow wrote on Channel X.

“Targeting Jewish institutions is anti-Semitic, and now there is hatred in our city.”

When Dr. Raghu Venugopal, an emergency room physician in Toronto, heard what was happening, he rushed to the hospital with a sign that read, “Leave Mount Sinai alone.”

“Meanwhile, mercifully, protests continued in front of this fantastic hospital. But I think it's important that we remind our compatriots in Toronto and across the country that this is indeed a federal offense,” Venugopal said Tuesday on Newstalk1010.

“We have to remember that hospitals are legally protected places in our country.”

Members of Parliament Melissa Lanstman and Marco Mendicino posted on social media a photo of an individual waving a Palestinian flag standing over the entrance to a Mount Sinai hospital and a video of a group shouting loudly as one member jumped a construction barrier in front of the hospital. .

“The team chose patients, their families, nurses, doctors and all those who help save lives inside the hospital. They chose the Jews because this is Mount Sinai Hospital,” Lanstman wrote.