Ruminations: Chaotic Christmas Shopping Courtesy of Palestinian Outrage

"We can confirm that a demonstrator and another citizen who was at the mall exchanged words, which you see in a video that's circulating, and officers were keeping them apart. We are investigating this incident."
"During a situation like this, when tensions are high and there are large crowds of people, including the general public, officers must use their best judgement at the time, taking everyone's safety into consideration."
"The mall was very busy with holiday shoppers, and officers used their training to de-escalate the situation and disperse the crowd."
Toronto Police Service statement

"It's deeply concerning when people can make threats like that in the presence of police officers seemingly without consequence. I think it's important that even if you can't arrest somebody in the moment, because it might cause the situation to escalate or become more threatening or more violent, that there's followup, that things are being investigated and people are held to account."
"Whatever's going on in the Middle East is complicated, but this is life here in Canada and people should have some decency to direct their protests where it's deserved, where it's merited, where there's a message being sent."
"It's not clear to me what these protesters are hoping to achieve other than to harass and intimidate Canadian shoppers during the holiday season."
"When somebody breaks the law there has to be accountability. Freedom of expression is a cherished Canadian right, and it's really a crucial value that we will share, but there are limits. When someone's expression of protest starts to veer into things that are unlawful ... this is a step too far."
Noah Shack, vice-president, Countering Anti-Semitism and Hate, United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto

Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Eaton Centre in Toronto. Photo by @neveragainlive1

Videos of a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Sunday that took place at The Eaton Centre outside a Zara store in Toronto have been viewed countless times on social media for the images of a masked protester threatening someone while Toronto police officers look on: "I'll put you six-feet deep". "I'll put him on the ground", the masked protester says pointing at police officers in the mall. "You come near I'll put you lay down on the floor [sic] ... I'll put you six feet deep". The camera records police looking at one another while the protester moves on.

In a later part of the video the man again says "I'll put you six feet deep. If you're a man, come touch me", the protester says again, in the presence of police. According to Toronto police, 150 demonstrators at about 5:30 p.m. entered the Eaton Centre where police had been stationed to augment regular mall security presence. At this time of year, with Christmas looming, and people out in great throngs doing their Christmas-gift shopping, the mall was busy.

Police and others theorize that the rally that took place that evening might be linked to a larger campaign to boycott Zara. A demonstration took place, as well as similar protests, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre and at Bayshore Shopping Centre in Ottawa. Zara shops are part of the clothing company Inditex, owned by the wealthy Ortega Spanish family (the eighth wealthiest family worldwide). Organizers of these protests may be under the impression that the Zara chain is Jewish-owned and a target for boycott. In very fact, the owners faced a lawsuit charging them with antisemitism.

Zara fashions have long garnered notoriety; once for a bag designed with the Nazi swastika symbol, another for a shirt emblazoned with a yellow star, reminiscent of Nazi Germany's persecution of Jews during the Holocaust years. This current protest is thought to have originated in a campaign to boycott after a Zara ad campaign titled "The Jacket", featuring a model in front of stylized rubble, carrying a mannequin wrapped in a shroud, reminiscent of destructive images in Gaza stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Idit Shamir, Consul General of Israel in Toronto, seeing the video, commented: "Pro-Palestinians terrify young children waiting to meet Santa. Added bonus -- they are screaming that Jesus was a Palestinian. You can't make this stuff up."