Live and Let Live? Muslim Student Groups Threatening Harassing Jewish Students, Toronto Metropolitan University
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| Images from Toronto Police after charges were laid after a private off-campus event held by the TMU chapter of Students Supporting Israel was disrupted on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. |
"I got outside of the building. The door was completely blocked by police officers as well as these protesters.""It's really scary because I have no idea who these people are. They're wearing masks. I'm proud to be a Zionist. I'm proud to be Jewish. I'm proud to have my Israeli family. So when I show up to these events, I'm not covering my face, because I don't care who knows I'm here.""These people who show up with the faces covered, what that says to me is they're cowards and they don't truly believe in what they're fighting for."Sam (last name omitted)member of Allied Voices for Israel (AVI)"It was supposed to be a moment of dialogue, a chance to share my story as an IDF veteran, to talk about the war, and about my uncle Sharon Edri, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas.""But instead of a conversation, we were met with violence.""Masked terrorists broke through the glass door and charged at us. One came at me with a drill bit."Israeli soldier Jonathan Karten"[The protest was a] targeted attempt to silence and intimidate Jewish students and their allies.""[TMU must be prepared] to act decisively by holding those responsible accountable and revoking recognition for any club that engages in or promotes terrorism, violence or hatred."Daniel Koren, founder, executive director, Allied Voices for Israel
On Wednesday of this week, an event was organized at Toronto Metropolitan University, one intended for the presence of a select group of students, its purpose and location deliberately not advertised; the details given only to those to whom an invitation to attend was extended. This special care not to have the location and the reason for the event made public had a purpose; to ensure that another TMU student group, Students for Justice in Palestine, would not mount a protest to interfere with the event, as is often experienced.
The event organized by AVI was not a one-off; such events had taken place on previous occasions. This most recent event's purpose, like its predecessors, was to hear directly from Israel Defense Forces soldiers about their experiences. Despite the precautions that the event organizers were careful to put in place, anti-Israel protesters showed up before the event began, forcing their way into the building lobby and from there attempting to get at those attending the event.
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| This screenshot from an unverified video is said to be from the Students Supporting Israel event shows a man pushing back an anti-Israel protester who broke through a glass door. Photo by Screenshot/X |
Liat Schwartz, the event organizer, described how seeing protesters in the building lobby sent her into a state of disbelief that anyone would know where the event was being held, off campus, since the information was shared only with those the group was familiar with, and then only on the day previous to the event. Soon more masked protesters appeared. One of the protesters broke a glass door while trying to reach the Israeli soldier. Evidently, Students for Justice in Palestine had posted a call to action on social media.
19-year-old Centennial College student Sam had heard screams as she approached the building. When she entered the lobby, protesters assailed her, shouting 'terrorist', 'baby killer' 'murderer', then physically manhandled her, shoving her to the floor. Zionists, they hissed at her, were "worse than the KKK". She was told by the masked protesters surrounding her that they knew who she was and she would not be able to hide from them.
"This shocking act of antisemitic violence reflects the escalating climate of intimidation facing Jewish students on Canadian campuses.""It demands more than statements of concern -- it requires action."Michael Levitt, president, CEO, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
Sam described the shattered glass and blood she saw on the floor. She lost consciousness and suffered a seizure from 'emotional distress', as someone who suffers from non-epileptic seizures triggered by stress. Taken to hospital, she was released a day later. Altogether, five people were arrested, from age 23 to29, according to Toronto police -- and all of them female. On receiving reports that "a group of demonstrators forced their way into a building", police speedily arrived. Charges laid include forcible entry, obstructing a peace officer and unlawful assembly.
As the protesters attempted to reach the Israeli soldier, he fought them off, barricaded the door -- with videos showing Karten leaping through the door after the glass insert was shattered to chase down the protesters. Footage shows wounds on his forearms. "Hey guys, I'm fine", he assured the others. The university put out a boilerplate statement of condemning "acts of aggression, intimidation, or violence", planning to apply policies "as appropriate, to respond". That it was committed toe, though past events have proven otherwise.
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"I'm very upset that they put out a generic statement, because that just shows how little they care for the Jewish community at TMU.""I'm sick of it, I'm tired, I'm upset. I'm angry, but this fuels me more to be more proactive. But I'm also scared. Being proactive at TMU [Toronto Metropolitan University] comes with a consequence, and the consequence is Jewish students stop feeling safe and get attacked like we did yesterday and verbally harassed.""I don't feel safe. I've never felt safe at TMU.""I've never been more scared in my life. I don't want to step foot on campus ever again.""My body was shaking. I was hyperventilating. I was trying to talk to the police, but I was crying.""I thought this was a nightmare."Liat Schwartz, 20, president, Students Supporting Israel/student ambassador for Allied Voices for Israel
Labels: Allied Voices for Israel, Anti-Israel Protests, Pro-Hamas, Students for Justice in Palestine, Students Supporting Israel, Toronto Metropolitan University
posted by Pieface @ Saturday, November 08, 2025
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