Saturday, March 29, 2025
Toronto police say 10 people were arrested Saturday afternoon during a heated standoff between an anti-immigration rally and a counter-demonstration at Christie Pits Park.
Police confirmed that one individual was taken into custody at around 12:40 p.m. near Bloor Street West and Christie Street on charges of assault. Later in the evening, officers told CBC Toronto that a total of 10 arrests were made in connection with both rallies.
The gathering, called the “Canada First Patriot Rally,” was organized to protest what participants described as “mass immigration.” On Instagram, organizers urged “true Canadian patriots” to rise together, claiming the country was “changing rapidly, and not for the better.”
Event organizer Joe Anidjar told Radio-Canada that the rally was about “putting Canadians first.” He argued that allowing millions of newcomers from around the world “puts pressure on our resources.”
At the same time, hundreds more gathered for a counter-rally, demonstrating support for immigrant communities. Organizers highlighted Christie Pits’ long history as a site of anti-fascist resistance and community gathering.
A joint statement posted by the Ontario Federation of Labour said:
“This park has been, and remains, a vital space for immigrants, Indigenous people, queer and trans people, survivors of sexual violence, the unhoused, artists, students, and families.”
Deena Ladd, executive director of the Workers’ Action Centre, told CBC Toronto that anti-immigration activists were wrongly scapegoating newcomers for Canada’s housing and food insecurity.
“This is not the fault of immigrants,” Ladd said. “Blaming them for the lack of affordable housing, food bank shortages, or strained healthcare is deeply misleading.”
Toronto city councillor Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale) criticized the choice of Christie Pits Park as a rally site. In a statement, she said the event did not reflect Canadian values:
“Instead, it represents an effort to gain notoriety by intimidation, hostility, and division rooted in the false belief that immigrants contribute less to this country.”
Toronto police closed stretches of Bloor Street West around Christie Street for several hours on Saturday, warning drivers of delays near Bay Street, Yonge Street, and Wellesley Street. Officers later reopened the roads after demonstrators moved toward Sankofa Square downtown.
A Toronto Police Service spokesperson said more details on the charges and identities of those arrested will be released in a forthcoming news statement.
