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March 06, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
Independent journalist Zachary Ruiter was forcefully removed and arrested at an Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) election night event on February 27, 2025, after staging a brief protest criticizing the party’s stance on the war in Gaza. The incident, which occurred at the ONDP’s Toronto rally, has ignited controversy over freedom of expression and political accountability in Canada.
Ruiter, known for his independent reporting and activism, held up a sign reading “Marit’s Legacy is Genocide,” directly calling out party leader Marit Stiles for what he described as the ONDP’s complicity in Israel’s military actions in Gaza. According to eyewitness accounts, six Ontario Provincial Police officers tackled Ruiter to the ground in front of an estimated 100 party members and labor officials. He sustained visible bruising from the incident.
The crowd reportedly responded with chants of “NDP! NDP!” and boos, as Ruiter was taken out of the building. He was initially charged with mischief, resisting arrest, and trespassing, but those charges were later reduced to trespass alone. His lawyer argued that Ruiter was exercising his constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful protest, protected under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
A particularly striking aspect of the case is Ruiter’s identity: he is Jewish and the grandson of Holocaust survivors. He emphasized that his protest stemmed from a belief in “Never Again” for all people, including Palestinians, and said he felt morally compelled to speak out against what he views as genocide.
The arrest has raised serious questions about the ONDP’s tolerance for dissent and its approach to freedom of speech within its ranks and public spaces. Critics argue that the heavy-handed response to a nonviolent protest reflects a broader unwillingness within Canadian political circles to confront the ethics of foreign policy support and criticism of Israel.
The case has become a flashpoint in a growing national conversation about the limits of protest, the role of journalism in political spaces, and the rights of individuals to challenge power, even from within their political affiliations.
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