'You and I can erase hate'

TORONTO - More than 3,000 people -- including Jack Layton and Stockwell Day, Jews and gentiles -- gathered last night for a boisterous rally against anti-Semitism.

The crowd, including some people wrapped in flags of Israel, gave repeated standing ovations to pleas for racial tolerance and respect after a spate of graffiti and vandalism that has hit Toronto synagogues, schools and a Jewish cemetery.

"This hatred is the stuff of cowards," Dalton McGuinty, the Premier, told the standing-room crowd at the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre. "What could be more cowardly than defiling the resting places of those who cannot stand up and defend themselves?"

The 3,000 who showed up for the rally were 2,000 more than the theatre could hold. Hundreds gathered in gyms next door to listen to the speeches on loudspeakers, or stood in the drizzle outside, cheering and clapping.

"You and I can erase hate if we speak out," the Premier said. "We can watch it wither under the light cast by courage. An attack on any one of us is an attack on all of us."

Mayor David Miller told the crowd, "anyone who overturns gravestones or sprays anti-Semitic slogans is not welcome in the city of Toronto."

Pointing to the multitude of races that share the city, Mr. Miller said, "If this city is not safe from hatred directed against the Jewish community, then it is not safe for anyone."

City councillors and provincial and federal politicians joined the rally. A banner read, in huge letters: "In Solidarity Against Anti-Semitism and Hate," flanked by flags of Ontario, Canada and Israel.

Those attending included Mr. Day, a Conservative MP and former Canadian Alliance leader, Ernie Eves, the leader of the Ontario opposition, and Mr. Layton, leader of the federal New Democrats.

Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino received one of the loudest ovations early in the rally when he said: "The diversity of Canada is a valuable asset that must be cherished.''

A sign on stage from the United Jewish Appeal Federation, which organized the rally, showed a little girl kissing a Star of David. That sign is one of those defaced along Bathurst Street in the attacks.

The recent vandalism has seen headstones toppled, windows smashed at synagogues, schools and homes and signs defaced with anti-Semitic slogans and Nazi swastikas. Among the vandalism:

- On Tuesday, police responded to calls at the Lubavitch Centre after vandals threw eggs at the synagogue.

- On Monday, police arrested a man for spray-painting anti-Jewish slogans on construction hoardings along Bloor Street West. That same day, a teacher at a public school discovered two swastikas drawn in marker on the entrance door.

- On Sunday, workers at Bathurst Lawn Memorial Park, a cemetery, discovered 22 gravestones toppled over, along with six benches. The vandals also damaged a menorah and several plaques.

- On Saturday, the Pride of Israel synagogue discovered vandals had painted swastikas on the wall and broken seven stained glass windows. Anti-Semitic graffiti also was found on a Jewish day school, a row of United Jewish Appeal signs and a sign in front of another synagogue.

- Earlier last week, someone defaced 13 residences in Thornhill with swastikas and hate messages in spray paint.

Yesterday in the House of Commons, Irwin Cotler, the Minister of Justice, condemned the attacks as "an assault on the inherent dignity of the human person, an assault on the equal dignity of all persons." He added, "I am sure all members of this House join me in unequivocally condemning these acts of racist hate."

Such was the crush of cars trying to get to the event that many, like Toronto builder Bill Birnbaum, parked south of Sheppard Avenue and walked the last kilometre to the theatre.

"I think it's important for Jews to stand together in times of crisis like this, with everything that's happening in Israel and that's affecting us now here as well," Mr. Birnbaum said.

Tzvi Sperber, a British-born Israeli who is in Toronto to "raise awareness about what is going on in Israel," said the anti-Semitic outbreak here did not shock him. "No, because I come from Europe," he said.

The crowd included members of Chinese, Turkish, Islamic and Christian groups across the city. Most in attendance were Jewish, and as the rally ended last night, throngs of young people milled about, chanting, "Israel."

York Police and Toronto police each offered a $10,000 reward yesterday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who defaced or damaged property in Toronto and Vaughan. Those with information should call 1 (866) 876-5423, ext. 7441.