Mount Sinai Hospital Protest: Trudeau Responds, 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.

In turn, protest organizers say the hospital was not targeted and was simply on a “regular rally route” to visit the US consulate.

“Interfering with hospital operations is unacceptable,” Toronto police said in a statement.

“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.”

The protest near Mount Sinai was just the latest in a series of demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas war.

Police confirmed last month that they had responded to 343 local demonstrations since October 7, when the fighting began. Total costs were pegged at $7.5 million due to police responding to the protests, as well as additional patrols in some areas. million.

“You broke the law”

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.”

A number of groups, including the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, called the tactics used by some demonstrators “vulgar, illegal and anti-Semitic” in a post on Monday night near Mount Sinai.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed Monday night's incident or experienced harassment to contact investigators.

Speaking to Newstalk 1010 on Tuesday, emergency physician Dr. Raghu Venugopal said he lined up at the hospital with a sign reading “Leave Mount Sinai alone” when he heard what was happening. While he said the protesters were moved when he arrived, it was important to remind people that “hospitals are legally protected places in our country.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also responded to the news Tuesday afternoon, describing Mount Sinai as a “sanctuary” for everyone, including her own family.

“My father passed there, and my late husband and I were treated for cancer there,” Chou wrote on Channel X. “Targeting Jewish institutions is anti-Semitic and hate has no place in our city.”

Members of Parliament Melissa Lanzmann and Marco Mendicino on social media, Posting a photo of an individual waving a Palestinian flagStanding above the entrance to Mount Sinai Hospital, along with a video of the group chanting loudly One member jumped over 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.

The organizers will respond

In a statement to CTV News Toronto, Toronto4Palestine said it was “shameful” to see the prime minister and other elected officials call their “peaceful protest” anti-Semitic.

“(Mount Sinai Hospital) will be along our regular rally route, which we routinely pass on our way to rally in front of the US Consulate,” the statement said. The consulate is located on University Avenue, south of Dundas Street, across from the hospital.

“The irony is that portraying the raising of the Palestinian flag as an act of hate-based anti-Semitism is self-perpetuating anti-Palestinian racism,” the report said.