Newsfeed & Content Library

Following reports of antisemitic propaganda displayed at a demonstration near Bathurst and Sheppard, ALCCA Senior Criminal Counsel Rochelle Direnfeld joined Deb Hutton on Newstalk 1010 to discuss the legal implications and broader concerns.

ALCCA’s Chair, Mark Sandler sharply criticizes the decision to lay charges of public incitement of hatred against a counter demonstrator at the Al-Quds Day protest, absurdly treating the Islamic Republic of Iran as a victim of hatred. This is doubly troubling given the frequent failure to prosecute legitimate cases of incitement of hatred against Jews and Israelis.

In this legal update, ALCCA’s Senior Criminal Counsel, Rochelle Direnfeld, reviews an Ontario court decision denying the Attorney General’s last-minute bid to halt the Al-Quds Day protest in Toronto. Following the demonstration, Toronto Police laid multiple charges in connection with incidents at the rally, also addressed in an editorial by ALCCA’s Chair, Mark Sandler. Direnfeld also reports on a separate hate crime case involving the playing of a Hitler speech outside a resi

On The Canadian Jewish News’ North Star podcast, ALCCA Senior Criminal Counsel Rochelle Direnfeld joins Michael Teper, President of the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF) – an ALCCA member organization – to discuss concerns about the handling of antisemitism-related criminal charges in Toronto.

A new National Post column highlights a striking trend in Canada: many charges tied to anti-Israel protest activity are being dropped, stayed, or diverted. The analysis draws in part on ALCCA’s case tracking, which has identified only a small number of convictions since October 7.

This Hate Crime & Legal Update reviews three recent cases with significant legal implications: hate-motivated offences targeting Jewish institutions in York Region and Toronto, events outside the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre in Toronto, and the Montreal conviction of activist Yves Engler for harassing a police investigator.

Recent terrorism-related cases in Canada and abroad reveal an urgent need for stronger enforcement, prevention, and policy action. In this joint article, ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler – and Senior Criminal Counsel Rochelle Direnfeld – examine new threats – from ISIS-inspired plots to domestic extremism – and present ALCCA’s 11 updated Calls to Action to strengthen Canada’s response to terrorism and violent hate.

Canada has issued its first conviction for Wilful Promotion of Antisemitism. Rochelle Direnfeld, ALCCA’s Senior Criminal Counsel, explains the case, its impact, and the court’s strong stance against hate.

On Yom Kippur at Temple Sinai, Rochelle Direnfeld – ALCCA’s Senior Criminal Counsel – joined Rabbi Michael Dolgin to share updates on ALCCA’s legal work. She highlighted efforts to train police and prosecutors, support victims, and advocate for stronger hate-crime enforcement, while reviewing antisemitism trends, recent cases, Bill C-9, and the emerging concept of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR).

In a new editorial, ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler warns of a nearly 500% surge in terrorism-related charges in Canada, with plots often targeting Jews and other vulnerable groups. He outlines the strain on law enforcement, Canada’s role as a hub for terrorist financing, and urgent steps for government and Parliament to take action.