Toronto Officials Confirm Removal of Antisemitic Graffiti Advocating Violence
A disturbing incident of antisemitic vandalism in Toronto's west end has been addressed by municipal authorities, with city staff painting over hateful graffiti that called for violence against Jewish people. The graffiti, which contained explicit threats, was discovered under a bridge at Royal York Road and Dundas Street West, prompting immediate action from local representatives.
Community Response and Official Condemnation
Toronto resident Christine Van Geyn brought attention to the offensive message through social media, sharing a video that captured the words "Kill Jews for peace" scrawled in black paint. Her decision to document and publicize the vandalism stemmed from concern about the escalating climate of hostility facing Jewish communities in the city and across Canada.
City Councillor Brad Bradford, representing Beaches-East York, expressed profound disgust upon learning of the incident. In a formal statement, Bradford emphasized that Toronto's Jewish population has endured "a shocking increase in antisemitism" in recent times, citing specific examples including firebombed restaurants, targeted schools, and hateful protests in Jewish neighborhoods.
Bradford stated unequivocally: "Hateful graffiti litters our streets, parks and sidewalks. It's disgusting, it's abhorrent, and it needs to stop." He further stressed that genuine leadership requires consistent denunciation of such acts and concrete measures to eliminate them from public spaces.
Municipal Action and Police Involvement
The office of Deputy Mayor Amber Morley, whose Etobicoke-Lakeshore ward includes the location of the graffiti, confirmed that city workers promptly covered the offensive message. A spokesperson declared: "Our office does not tolerate antisemitism or any form of hate," adding that authorities have been in communication with police regarding the incident.
This is not the first occurrence of antisemitic vandalism at this particular location. Van Geyn reported similar hate messages at the same bridge in November 2025, indicating a pattern of targeted hostility. She noted the particularly alarming nature of these messages given their proximity to two elementary schools, transforming ordinary public infrastructure into platforms for violent rhetoric.
Broader Context of Rising Antisemitism
Van Geyn, who is married to a Jewish man with Jewish step-children, shared her perspective on the changing landscape: "What might once have seemed unthinkable is now being written openly on bridges and walls." She emphasized that antisemitism has moved from abstract concern to tangible reality, manifesting in spaces where people live, work, and attend school daily.
According to B'nai Brith Canada, an organization monitoring antisemitic incidents nationwide, 32 separate occurrences were reported just last week alone. Their annual audit documents a troubling trend that extends beyond Toronto, including harassment of Jewish couples and swastikas defacing synagogues in cities like Winnipeg.
The persistence of such incidents underscores what community advocates describe as a dangerous normalization of hate speech and targeted violence against Jewish Canadians. As officials work to remove visible manifestations of antisemitism, broader conversations continue about addressing the underlying attitudes that fuel such expressions of hatred in public spaces.
