The comments made by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow during the Pride Parade on Sunday have sparked controversy and outrage among two citizen groups, with one group threatening to withhold support for the mayor in the upcoming municipal election.
The Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization (DCCO) has issued a press release condemning the mayor's public support for the Palestinian cause, which was seen as insensitive to the city's Jewish community.
During the parade, the mayor was approached by an advocate from the Free Palestine movement and responded with a statement of support, saying "Yes. Free Palestine."
Lori Nausbaum, a member of the Downtown Jew Crew, described the mayor's comments as a "blatant display of her antisemitic attitude" and a clear message that she does not care about all constituents.
The DCCO is not the only group to express outrage over the mayor's comments, with several community groups filing complaints with the city's integrity commissioner and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
The integrity commissioner is responsible for overseeing the conduct of elected officials and can investigate complaints of misconduct or unethical behavior.
The DCCO believes that the mayor's comments will have consequences at the ballot box on October 26, when the municipal election is held, and has stated that they will not be supporting the mayor in the next election.
As the municipal election approaches, the controversy surrounding the mayor's comments is likely to continue to be a major issue in the campaign.
