The ‘Indigo 11’: Group of ‘hate-motivated’ vandals or unconnected activists?

globalnews.ca:

charged an Ottawa youth with terrorism for allegedly plotting an attack against the Jewish community. In Toronto, city councillor James Pasternak last week decried an “escalation of lawlessness in Toronto” after a Jewish-owned delicatessen was targeted by arson and graffiti.Between Oct. 7 and Dec.

17, 2023, according to Toronto police, there were 98 hate crimes reported in the city, compared with 48 the year before. More than half of the 98 were antisemitic.But supporters of the so-called “Indigo 11” say the bookstore vandalism is a form of protest against Reisman’s Israel-focused philanthropy, not Judaism — and should not be criminalized.Police have not charged the 11 with a hate crime. Nonetheless, the fallout was swift.

At least five have been suspended from their jobs. One of their charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.On Monday, four of the accused made their first court appearance. Two were represented by the same lawyer, two represented themselves.But who exactly is this group of ragtag Torontonians?A Global News investigation has found that many are longtime activists for various causes.

At least half of them have been affiliated with a once-prominent Toronto migrant rights group.“A lot of our circles are folks who are deeply disturbed with what’s happening in the world,” says lawyer Swathi Sekhar, a longtime collaborator with Scott.“I personally believe that speaking up about this, so people know what’s happening, is a moral obligation … and instead it’s been criminalized.”But what binds the “Indigo 11” is a little more unclear. Because several of them apparently don’t know each other at all.“It’s a pretty random group of people. The common thread for most of them is migrant justice work and