Hate crime up in Toronto
By PAUL LUNGEN
Staff Reporter
The number of reported incidents of hate crimes in Toronto increased by nine per cent last year, with the Jewish community the single most targeted group, according to the Toronto Police Service’s 2004 Annual Hate/Bias Crime Statistical Report.
Jews were attacked 59 times and Israelis six, states the report, which breaks down incidents in categories including religion, ethnicity and nationality.
The next most frequently targeted group was the black community, with 31 incidents, gays with 10 and Muslims with nine. A “multi-bias” category, which includes a variety of groupings, experienced 18 incidents.
Prepared by the police hate crime unit, the report noted the nine per cent increase last year reversed a two-year period of decline.
“A small increase in the number of reported hate crimes occurred in 2004,” the report states. “Last year, the Toronto Police Service hate crime unit identified a total of 163 hate crime occurrences… The 163 occurrences in 2004 is the third lowest number recorded since the unit began in 1993 and is well below the 12-year average of 222 occurrences per year.”
The report drew special attention to two high profile incidents. In March, Jewish communal institutions, including a synagogue and cemetery, were the subject of vandalism and mischief. Three young men were subsequently charged with a number of criminal offences, including the promotion of hatred.
The other widely publicized incident took place during the summer at Ryerson University when an individual distributed “virulently anti-Muslim materials on campus.” The suspect was charged in October with a number of hate-related offences.
Most incidents reported to police involve either mischief, assault or threats, with mischief (vandalism and graffiti) the most common, accounting for 59 per cent of the total. Hate propaganda offences “decreased significantly in 2004, with just 12 occurrences being recorded compared to 31 in 2003,” the report found.
Twenty-three persons, mostly young men, were arrested in 2004, with 57 criminal charges laid. Thirteen cases are before the court. Six cases resulted in convictions and sentencing, two of which included weapons prohibition orders. “Other penalties have included numerous days in pre-trial custody, one to three year terms of probation with conditions, time be served in addition to pre-trial custody, suspended sentences and a peace bond,” the report stated.
B’nai Brith Canada, which publishes an annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents in Canada, noted the police findings coincide with its own report. B’nai Brith found that anti-Semitic incidents reached an all time high in 2004 – 857 incidents – a 47 per cent jump over the year before.
“The Toronto Police study details the doubling of hate crime activity directed at members of the Jewish community – a finding that is especially disturbing given that Jews are the most targeted group, yet make up only a very small fraction of the total city population,” said Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B’nai Brith Canada.
The police and B’nai Brith findings “demand an urgent response and should dispel any notions of complacency,” he added.
Len Rudner, director of community relations for Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario region, said Jews were the subject of only 29 incidents in 2003. While the number of incidents overall grew by nine per cent, those directed against Jews more than doubled. If not for the increase in offences against Jews, pushing the overall statistics higher, the trend would have continued downward, he added.
“I believe what we’re seeing is an accumulation of factors… I think what the accumulation is doing is creating a greater sense of permissibility. People always wanted to do it but felt societal pressure made it the wrong thing to do.
“The Jewish community in Canada and elsewhere has always been the canary in the coal mine. Intolerance versus Jews is symptomatic of larger issues in society,” he said
"You should solve your own problems before defending Palestinians terrorists" (Caesar 44 , 2005)
:duel:
