Toronto Police Service spokesperson defended the department’s actions on X before deleting the posts and her entire account.
Footage from Toronto, Ontario shows police hand-delivering a box of hot Tim Horton’s coffee to Hamas supporters who were blocking a bridge near a Jewish neighborhood on Saturday.
Instead of arresting the pro-Hamas protesters who were blocking traffic, the Toronto police essentially became their errand boys.
“When the pro-Hamas activist is asked how he got coffees from the police, he said someone had bought them for him but police refused to allow them onto the bridge. So, in effect, the policeman became the DoorDash delivery man for these terrorist sympathizers,” the Right Scoop reported.
Police deliver box of Tim Hortons coffee to protesters on behalf of those who cannot join the highway overpass. #cdnpoli #Toronto #Palestine #Israel #Gaza #ProtestMania pic.twitter.com/tAzaEFxFM4
— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) January 6, 2024
However, Toronto police appeared to have no issue blocking media from covering the traffic disruption.
I’m trying to get to the anti-Israel protest in a Jewish neighbourhood in Toronto and police won’t even allow media onto the bridge. pic.twitter.com/l5nhr3Os3T
— Beth Baisch ? (@BethBaisch) January 6, 2024
Toronto Police Service spokesperson Laura Brabant defended the department’s actions in now-deleted X posts, saying they were working to “de-escalate” the protests.
“Our officers are managing a dynamic situation. In performing a helpful act today, our officer’s motivation was to help keep tensions low and should not be interpreted as showing support for any cause or group. Our officers continue to work to de-escalate these demonstrations,” she wrote before deleting her entire account.
Quoted tweet from Officer Laura Brabant of Toronto Police Service has been deleted, but screenshot is provided below for reference: pic.twitter.com/ZODzGSu24b
— Not Your Kulak (@inakomysliachii) January 7, 2024
“Officers in Toronto are often publicly criticized for heavy handed tactics used during demonstrations. Today, given a very dynamic situation, officers continued to work to de-escalate these demonstrations and maintain calm and the public’s safety.”
Here’s the now deleted tweet and account from the TPS comms person Laura Brabant on the justification for the coffee delivery???? pic.twitter.com/8qkbkwKdpr
— Miriam Edison (@AnneMcI55800645) January 7, 2024
Liberal MP Marco Mendicino, who represents the area where the protest took place, criticized the police serving refreshments to the anti-Israel demonstrators.
“Good intentions aside, police serving coffee and food to protestors will just embolden more deliberate obstruction of traffic, undermine public safety, and add to local frustrations. Laws exist to prevent this. They need to be enforced!” he wrote Saturday.
Good intentions aside, police serving coffee and food to protestors will just embolden more deliberate obstruction of traffic, undermine public safety, and add to local frustrations. Laws exist to prevent this. They need to be enforced! pic.twitter.com/s7znCf3gt5
— Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) January 6, 2024
Fellow Liberal MP Anthony Housefather echoed Mendicino’s remarks, calling Toronto Police’s actions a “poor decision.”
“Police bringing food and coffee to demonstrators in the current context of the protests in Toronto was a very poor decision by @TorontoPolice. Unless the goal is to further undermine confidence in the way the force is handling the demonstrations.”
Police bringing food and coffee to demonstrators in the current context of the protests in Toronto was a very poor decision by @TorontoPolice . Unless the goal is to further undermine confidence in the way the force is handling the demonstrations.
— Anthony Housefather (@AHousefather) January 6, 2024
Police in the U.S. similarly responded with kid gloves against anti-Israel activists who launched balloons near the JFK airport on the New Year’s Eve holiday which disrupted 60 flights.
