A tragic anniversary: October 7

October 7th marks a tragic and deeply painful anniversary. One year ago, Hamas terrorists committed a horrific and murderous rampage against the people of Israel, costing over a thousand innocent lives. Hamas then dragged hundreds of Israeli hostages back to Gaza, many of whom remain in captivity. This triggered a devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas which has caused overwhelming, appalling suffering, destruction and death, mostly to Palestinian civilians (including many children) in Gaza. Now the war is spreading into Lebanon with no end in sight.

It is horrifying to watch. Most Torontonians urgently want the hostages to be safely returned, for the war to stop, and for desperately needed aid to reach affected civilians.? Despair, fear and rage are tearing at our communities.??

Many feel a great need to act in this moment and demand that our city government and fellow citizens do something to right these great wrongs. But what can we do? No one in Toronto of any religion started this foreign war. No one here can stop it. No one here seized the hostages. No one here can return them.? And so we watch and wait with deep grief and sadness from afar.

Here in Toronto, this brutal exchange of bloodshed and fear halfway around the world has darkened life for Muslims, Arabs, Palestinians and Jews. Police struggle to keep the peace; the City struggles with how to manage anguished, angry, often masked protesters and the disruptions they cause to traffic, neighbourhoods, businesses and hospitals, to public celebrations like the mayor’s levee and the Pride Parade, and to the sense of safety of Toronto’s small Jewish minority.?

Hate crimes are up against Muslims who face increasing islamophobia, incidents of threats, hijabs being pulled off, and stabbings at Mosques.? For Jews, antisemitism has exploded way out of proportion to levels not seen in nearly a century. Hate crimes, vandalism and intimidation have been directed throughout the Jewish community; Nazi swastikas constantly appear, with their unmistakable message of exclusion and death.??

Threats, attacks, hate, division and fear have no place in Toronto, the most successful highly diverse city in the world. Nor do they reflect the welcoming city that I know and continue to build.

Perhaps we can learn from recent steps taken by the University of Toronto to keep their campus safe for all students, faculty and staff while protecting the free expression of differing perspectives and individual opinions after the painful encampment there this summer. In addition, the University has wisely decided not to take sides in any divisive foreign dispute, and I believe that our City should do the same.

But for now, so many are hurting. Both Jews and Muslims tell me they feel unheard, unsafe, and deeply traumatized. I am working to build what bridges I can, and I am thankful to the Islamic Centre of Toronto in University-Rosedale for their support.?

As a Councillor of the City of Toronto, I ask each of you to help keep Toronto a safe and welcoming place for people of all backgrounds and religions. What we have here in Toronto is precious, and cannot be taken for granted. Regardless of what ties a person may have to other countries and cultures, and whatever others may do there, everyone here has chosen to make Toronto our home. What do we want in our home for our children and grandchildren of every colour and creed? Surely: safety, beauty, belonging, prosperity and peace.

These blessings will not happen by themselves, or by turning one community against another. The only good option is to listen to each other and to find ways to build together the future that we hope for.

For now, I meet regularly with Toronto Police Services (TPS) and senior city staff to minimize threats, intimidation and conflict, and to keep schools and places of worship as safe as possible. If you witness or experience a threat to your safety or a hate crime, please follow this advice:

If you see something, say something.

Any allegations of hate-motivated incidents should immediately be reported to TPS for investigation.

? In an emergency and if there is an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1.

? For incidents that are not an immediate safety threat, call the TPS non-emergency line at 416-808-2222.

? Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

? Sharing unverified security concerns on social media can have unintended consequences and is no replacement for calling law enforcement directly.