Police make six arrests at annual Walk with Israel, protesters and walkers among those charged

An estimated 60,000 people joined the annual Walk with Israel event, with police arresting six counter protestors. CTV News Toronto’s Rahim Ladhani reports.

A total of six people were arrested at the annual Walk with Israel over the weekend, including a demonstrator who police say was seen “taunting” attendees while displaying anti-Israel signage and a walker who allegedly spat at a protester following a verbal confrontation.

Police had previously promised that they would have a “robust” presence at the annual walk after they said that some attendees at last year’s event raised concerns about being subjected to a “gauntlet of hate.”

Organizers have said that an estimated 60,000 people ultimately attended the event in North York on Sunday. Police were seen enforcing a buffer between walkers and protesters throughout the event.

In a news release on Monday, police confirmed that a total of six arrests were made during the walk, with one attendee and multiple protesters among those facing charges.

Police say that one individual left a designated protest arrest and then refused to clear the walk route when directed by police to do so. Police say that the accused ultimately spat on officers following a verbal altercation and was charged with assaulting a peace officer.

Another individual is accused of leaving the designated protest area and then “attempting to provoke” attendees of the walk at the entrance to Earl Bales Park, police say. The accused was ordered to clear the walk route but allegedly refused to comply with “multiple” directions and was charged with obstructing a peace officer.

A woman was also arrested for breach of the peace and later released after she was seen walking back and forth along the route while displaying “anti-Isreal” signage and “taunting attendees,” police say. The authorities say that the incident “led to a verbal confrontation between event participants and counter-protestors.”

One participant in the walk, meanwhile, was arrested after they spat at a protester and the sign they were holding following a verbal argument near Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue, police say. They were later charged with assault.

For a full list of the suspects and the charges they are facing follow this link.