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It might not be the Grinch or Scrooge who steals Christmas this year.
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It could be a meaner villian. It could be Hamas.
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Or, at least, protesters who side with the evil terrorists in the war with Israel in Gaza.
My use of Christmas metaphors is not meant to be flippant, since this may not be a benign Yuletide tale with a happy ending. But it’s so ridiculous that one hopes it’s just a trick, or prank.
But it sure looks real.
“Shut it down for Palestine,” said a poster making the social media rounds since Monday night. “No Xmas as usual in a genocide.”
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On X, The Palestinian Youth Movement posted this as “the next international Shut it Down Day: Saturday, December 23.” An updated meme Tuesday afternoon indicated they are to meet at Yonge-Dundas Square at 1 p.m. Saturday to call for a “ceasefire now” and to “lift the siege on Gaza” and “end Canadian complicity on Israel.”
It’s a soft target as malls, roadways, parking lots, subways, streetcars, buses, restaurants, and banks will likely be filled with vulnerable last-minute stressed shoppers.
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Throw in a potential disruption at a time when Ottawa police just arrested a teen who allegedly had bomb making materials, it could be mayhem – especially when the protesters know they can pretty much say or do anything they want without fear of consequences.
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The whole thing is cruel. None of the people they will heckle and harass have any role in the Gaza conflict.
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The Toronto Sun reached out on social media for comment from the Palestinain Youth Movement, but did not receive a reply.
“Radical pro-Palestinian organizers are shifting their focus from inciteful anti-Semitic hate rallies to shutting down Christmas,” said B’nai Brith CEO Michael Mostyn. “Attempting to disrupt the ability of Canadians to publicly celebrate the holiday season and Christmas is an affront to our national heritage and religious freedoms. Enough is enough, we call on the requisite authorities to protect the ability of all Canadians to celebrate this holiday season free from intimidation.”
Meanwhile, Toronto Police have indicated officers “are aware of this and will be monitoring.” Const. Victor Kwong told the Sun “as with any large gatherings, we will monitor, assess and deploy when necessary.”
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But there are some who would like to see some pre-emptive moves.
Councillor James Pasternak called on organizers to “reconsider” since “people’s religious holidays should be off limits,” adding that in cases where protesters “storm malls, who is most hurt are small businesses who rely on December sales.” He added the message sent around the world that Toronto is “lawless” is also “very damaging.”
A Yorkdale Mall spokesperson said “disruptive behaviour such as demonstrations and protests are not permitted at Yorkdale” and “guest and employee comfort and safety are our priorities and, as such, we employ an excellent security team complemented with paid-duty police officers, and deploy some of the most sophisticated surveillance technology in Canada.”
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Yorkdale, the spokesperson said, is working closely with police to ensure a “consistent response to possible demonstrations” which “includes hiring additional paid-duty officers and security staff to ensure that Yorkdale is a safe and welcoming place for all employees and guests.”
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One thing that is noticeable is the posters do not mention Hamas, let alone the slaughter of Oct. 7 by the banned terrorist organization that somehow has the ear of some Canadian leaders, who turn a blind eye to what they do, including threatening death in front of police at the Eaton Centre or ruining children’s Santa Claus experience.
Were past swarmings a dry run for what’s planned for Saturday? What, where and how will these loud protesters try to shut down Christmas?
They have not tipped their hand. But protesters and activists have shown they’re willing to threaten, vandalize Jewish-owned stores, hit schools and day care centres with bomb scares, occupy banks, corporations and the TTC, rip hostage posters and assault Jewish people.
The sky is the limit on what could happen Saturday.
In one X posting, organizers explain “occupation forces are sniping Christians sheltering in besieged churches in Gaza and Christians in Bethlehem have declared celebrations are cancelled. So, too, for us.”
Could churches be targeted? The Gardiner Expressway again? Or is it a bluff?
No matter how it turns out, people are paying attention.
Ba Humbug.
Recommended from Editorial
LILLEY: Protests out of control, time for police and political action
WARMINGTON: This isn’t Gaza. It’s unacceptable to threaten to kill Jews or shoppers
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