How vandalizing Indigo erupted into much more

Plus, the problem with juror pay and the GTA school staffing crisis [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the vandalism at Indigo, the economics of jury duty and GTA school staffing shortages. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Chris Young israel-hamas war [How an act of vandalism at Indigo become a flashpoint in Toronto]( Pro-Palestinian protestors set out to make a splash on Indigo — vandalizing it in a way that would clearly link the iconic Canadian business to the killing of thousands of civilians in Gaza. Now, 11 people, including well-known activists and educators, students and professors, face serious jail time for the non-violent crime. For some, targeting Indigo’s founder crossed the line into antisemitism. But the meaning of the vandalism is complicated by the direct financial support Heather Reisman has provided to Israeli soldiers through her charity, Marco Chown Oved, Joshua Chong and Ben Cohen report. [Are the weight of the legal penalties proportional to what happened?]( - More: “The actions taken by protesters in the Palestine solidarity movement, including boycotts targeting complicity in what Israel is doing … are a long-standing, tried and true form of campaign,” said Michael Bueckert, an academic who studies international solidarity movements in Canada. - Meanwhile: Like Hamas, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also must go]( Martin Regg Cohn writes. - On the ground: Israel says Hezbollah struck a sensitive air traffic base in the north and [warns of “another war.”]( Alex Tavshunsky Illustration courts [“Completely untenable” juror pay means Ontarians rarely get a jury of their peers]( Although people are legally required to serve on juries if selected, jury pay in Ontario is notoriously low — and Toronto criminal defence lawyer Sid Freeman said he has seen time and time again that people are excused just because they can’t afford to serve. Anecdotally, that leaves more retirees, people who work for large corporations or the public sector serving on juries while the people standing trial often come from lower-income backgrounds, Jacques Gallant reports. [Here’s how much jurors actually make — and why it makes jury duty unrealistic for so many people](. - Wait, what? Although Ontario law prohibits employers from dismissing employees who serve on juries, it does not require them to continue paying their salaries. - Why it matters: Compensate people fairly for their time and “the makeup of the jury changes overnight, and those individuals who work in the gig economy, in retail, who are self-employed, have the ability to serve,” said Mark Farrant, chief executive officer of the Canadian Juries Commission, a non-profit organization that advocates for and provides supports to jurors. Canadian Press/Nathan Denette education [A GTA school staffing “crisis” has led to cancelled classes, burnout and mounting pressures]( Throughout Ontario, principals are sounding the alarm about staffing challenges across employee groups, including teachers and educational assistants who help students with special needs, Isabel Teotonio reports. Altogether, the shortages have led to cancelled or combined classes, teachers and educational assistants being reassigned, students having a rotation of substitutes, and unqualified parents volunteering to supervise, says Ontario Principals' Council President Ralph Nigro. [Take a closer look at the impact on students — and workers](. - Meanwhile: Nigro says most elementary school principals and vice-principals take on extra duties during the day — such as being a supply teacher, an educational assistant or a lunchroom supervisor — which takes a toll. Long-term disability claims by administrators in public boards have risen more than 500 per cent since the end of 2019. - More: The Ministry of Education is trying to ease the pressure on educators. For instance, last year, about 3,000 educational assistants were hired, and this year more than 2,000 teachers were added. WHAT ELSE Mayor Olivia Chow’s skating party was [cut short by protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza](. Doug Ford’s government called him with a “real challenge” — [so he packed his bags for Washington](. Human remains from “an ancient Indigenous burial ground” have been [found at an east end construction site](. More and more parents are helping their kids buy their first home — [but are they putting their own retirements at risk?]( Congestion is back. [Here’s what Toronto is doing about jammed Gardiner off-ramps](. An urban planner lays out 10 ways to [kick off a transit transformation in Toronto](. [Here’s what the takedown of Harvard president Claudine Gay was really about](. Was your family sick and miserable this holiday season? [You weren’t the only ones](. The Golden Globes are (mostly) fun again. [Here’s how “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie” and more did](. An offensive explosion is rocking the NBA. [Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic isn’t a fan](. POV Fatima Shbair/AP Photo [Canada must expand the eligibility and welcome Palestinians fleeing the “Worst Place on Earth.”]( CLOSE-UP Amy Sussman/Getty Images BEVERLY HILLS: Margot Robbie attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards with a dress recreating a 1977 Barbie look. [Check out these other standout looks from the night, including Taylor Swift, Rosamund Pike and Greta Lee](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_206779). 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