Crown prosecutors quietly dropped all charges against four of the 11 anti-Israel protesters who were suspected of desecrating a Toronto Indigo store in November.

The charges were dropped last week, with a lawyer for one of the four calling for police to drop the remaining charges against the remaining seven of the group.

“We’re also calling for people to focus their attention on the real crime, which is the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” said Michael Leitold, who is representing Sarom Rho.

Toronto police announce charges have been made against 11 individuals by the Hate Crime Unit following vandalism at a Toronto Indigo bookstore, where protesters accused the company's Jewish founder of "funding genocide."https://t.co/cIlPZDLUTt to sign the petition. pic.twitter.com/uHfskEAoIP

— Efrain Flores Monsanto 🇨🇦🚛 (@realmonsanto) November 23, 2023

“What we’re seeing is a crackdown on legitimate free speech and actions to hold our institutions and governments to account for their failure to stop the genocide and to actually facilitate it through the sale of arms and provision of resources.”

Karl Gardner, one of the other protesters who had charges dropped, called the development “bittersweet.”

🚨NOW IN #TORONTO👇

Posters defaming @chaptersindigo CEO @HeatherReisman, because of her #Jewish identity, is not only #antisemitic but also a hate crime!

Those who did this must be held accountable and brought to justice ASAP! @fordnation @oliviachow @TorontoPolice pic.twitter.com/5Pf5sh0y4t

— HonestReporting Canada (@HonestRepCanada) November 10, 2023

“I feel angry that more and more people are facing these kinds of charges and angry that the police continue to charge activists in an attempt to silence the Palestinian solidarity movement,” Gardner said.

Gardner, a political scientist, was placed on administrative leave by the University of Toronto after charges were laid against him.

“The Crown’s decision to withdraw charges against the four individuals should not be interpreted as a reflection on the validity of the charges laid by police or the credibility of the allegations,” Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer said in a statement to the Toronto Star.

"This will definitely be a record year for anti-Semitic incidents in Canada,"

said Marvin Rotrand, national director of the League of Human Rights, expressing his concern following the shooting at two Jewish schools in Montreal.

Full report: https://t.co/Pc9dCe5WY6 pic.twitter.com/iFyi3nGZrh

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) November 10, 2023

Police are accused of using unnecessary measures to arrest the accused.

“Entry plans when conducting a search warrant are based on the specific circumstances of the investigation and are carried out in accordance with the terms of the warrant,” Sayer continued.

The Crown, however, made clear that its withdrawal of charges should not be seen as a criticism of the police.

Police say that the protesters are charged with "hate-motivated crimes" though none have been charged with hate crimes.