Charges dropped for 3 more people accused in Indigo bookstore vandalism: lawyer

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 27, 2025 9:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

A Toronto lawyer says charges person been withdrawn against 3 much radical accused of defacing a downtown Indigo bookstore successful a 2023 protest.

Arash Ghiassi, who represents 2 radical successful the radical of accused, says that means 7 retired of 11 radical person seen their charges dropped successful the case.

Ghiassi says 2 members of the radical pleaded blameworthy connected Thursday and volition beryllium seeking implicit discharges from the court, which were granted to 2 others who antecedently entered blameworthy pleas.

Toronto constabulary laid charges of mischief, conspiracy and transgression harassment aft the store was postered and splashed with reddish overgarment successful what they described astatine the clip arsenic "suspected hate-motivated offences."

Indigo laminitis and main enforcement Heather Reisman, who is Jewish, has been a people of protests implicit a instauration she started with her hubby that offers scholarships to radical with nary household ties successful Israel who served successful that country's military.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and different organizations person denounced the Indigo protests arsenic antisemitic, an allegation denied by protesters and their supporters.

Activists person accused the constabulary and others of mischaracterizing the November 2023 protestation arsenic "hate-motivated" successful an effort to soundlessness pro-Palestinian groups, and alleged that officers carried retired unjustified raids connected the accused arsenic they made the arrests.

Toronto constabulary person antecedently said their officers carried retired "judicially authorized" hunt warrants arsenic portion of the investigation.