Residents angered by the posters promptly informed local police. Toronto police officers and city workers removed the posters on the same day, a task made more difficult because some papers were glued, rather than simply taped, to utility poles.
Many took to social media to spread the news and ask those who happen to come across the signs to immediately tear them down.
City councillor Janet Davis also denounced the posters as "unacceptable" on her twitter account, adding that staff were looking into who is behind the scheme.
This hate is unacceptable in our City. Staff are removing the posters immediately and investigating who is responsible.
— Janet Davis (@Janet_Davis) November 14, 2016
Posters In Toronto Are Encouraging White People To “Join The Alt-Right” https://t.co/PFes5b1JWr pic.twitter.com/8IgtT2jeYm
— ishmael n. daro (@iD4RO) November 14, 2016
Many believe the fact that the posters popped up soon after real-estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump won the US presidential election was not an accident.
"We are not surprised by these reports," said Nigel Barriffe, president of Toronto non-profit Urban Alliance on Race Relations, as cited by the Star.
Others suggest that Trump's victory drew attention to issues that have already been happening regularly.
"Those overt acts have been happening before, but with less attention," said Rinaldo Walcott, director of the University of Toronto Women & Gender Studies Institute. "Trump's election has focused attention now on things that have been happening prior."
The case of the posters is being investigated. Police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray asked those who have any information about the person or persons behind the posters to contact police.
