TORONTO – Eight people were arrested following clashes that broke out Saturday afternoon in downtown Toronto, outside City Hall, where anti-immigration demonstrators and anti-racism protesters took to the streets at the same time. 

According to a statement released Sunday by the Toronto Police Service, officers were deployed around 2 p.m. to Nathan Phillips Square, at the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street, where dozens of people had gathered to protest mass immigration. The rally, organized through a social media campaign promoted by the “Canada First” movement, quickly drew a counter-protest as well as a news conference involving city councillors and groups opposing the demonstration. Ahead of the event, City Councillor Neethan Shan (Scarborough–Rouge Park), together with organizations such as the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, had denounced racism and xenophobia, according to the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. Then, the counter-demonstration by Community Solidarity Toronto (an acronym that brings together all those opposed to “Canada First”) began to protest “against hate in the city.”

During the opposite demonstrations, police attempted to maintain order by providing directions to participants on both sides. However, some individuals allegedly caused disturbances, assaulted other protesters and, in some cases, police officers themselves. Three officers were reportedly assaulted while on duty.

The Toronto Police Association (TPA) said on social media that the situation was chaotic and that some demonstrators targeted officers by “throwing eggs, used toilet paper and plastic bags containing what appeared to be urine,” as reported by Global News / The Canadian Press. One officer was also reportedly punched. No officers sustained serious injuries. Police nonetheless described some of the demonstrators’ behaviour as “completely unacceptable and disgusting.”

In a message posted on social media, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw thanked officers who were on the front lines. “This kind of violence against police officers, or anyone, is unacceptable — full stop. Our officers are there to keep people safe, and they deserve to do their jobs without being attacked. As we have said many times, when officers have lawful grounds to do so, arrests will be made and charges laid — anywhere in the city, whether involving protesters or counter-protesters. Everyone must respect the law…” he said – here below is thew original tweet.

Those arrested — whose identities were released by police in a statement published on the Toronto Police Service website: here — range in age from 23 to 50 and are collectively facing 29 charges. These include assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, throwing an explosive with intent to cause bodily harm and carrying a concealed weapon. Some also face charges of theft, mischief and obstructing police. They are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Thursday, February 26, at 11 a.m.

On Twitter, the group “ProtestMania” (@CarymaRules) posted material purporting to document the alleged affiliation of some of those arrested with so-called “Antifa” groups, which opposed the “Canada First” rally.

According to police, between 200 and 300 people attended the two demonstrations combined.

Above, the two flyers of the opposing “rallies”: the anti-immigration one and the anti-racist one (photos from their respective websites)