The groups of people taking over our public spaces are becoming more common. They are making Jewish people feel scared and like they need to defend themselves.This is showing antisemitic people that they can be aggressive without consequences, and making other Canadians think this is okay. They are succeeding, but they shouldn't be, as more and more people are turning against them for causing harm and upsetting everyone.
Recently, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters made a dinner event for Justin Trudeau and Italian President Giorgia Meloni get cancelled at the Art Gallery of Ontario. They were calling for a revolution and reportedly throwing things at a federal cabinet minister. How can this be allowed in our country?
In Toronto, protesters disrupted a reception between Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and another cabinet minister. The police didn't remove or arrest the protesters. On the same day, in Montreal, protesters harassed Jewish residents and shut down a Jewish community centre. The police did nothing until Jewish community organizations went to court the next day to get an injunction. This shouldn't be necessary, as the police already have enough power to keep the peace and make sure people can use their places of worship and public spaces. If we can't rely on the police for this, society will suffer.
The police didn't take any action until Jewish community organizations went to court the next day to get an injunction. I think this will have to happen more often. It shouldn't be necessary, as the police already have the power to enforce the peace without needing a court order. This is different from a private labour dispute, and if we can't count on the police, our society will be much worse off. The police should make sure people can use their places of worship and public spaces in peace. This is similar to labour union strikes, where the police don't do anything until the courts get involved. But there's a difference between a private labour dispute and public harassment. If we can't rely on the police for this, society will be greatly diminished.
There were other incidents this week. Protesters targeted a Thornhill synagogue and the police didn't prevent the protest even though they were warned in advance. This resulted in hate speech and disruption at the synagogue.
In Europe, where there have been ongoing tensions with large numbers of Muslim immigrants, antisemitism has been increasing. Antisemitism has also been growing in the UK, where people are questioning if it's safe for Jews to go to London during big protests..
The situation has gotten so bad in the UK that PM Rishi Sunak felt the need to address the nation. He said that since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, there have been terrible examples of antisemitism, violent intimidation, and the glorification of terrorism during protests. He gave the police more powers to deal with protests, including those trying to hide their identities, with the risk of facing jail.
Our criminal code already stops protesters from wearing masks to hide their identities if it causes others to think there will be a disturbance of the peace, as was the case in all of these incidents. They could also be arrested if there was the will from politicians and police to do so.
Politicians who support their Jewish constituents are facing increasing threats. Mike Freer, a British government Minister from a largely Jewish area, announced his departure from politics after receiving death threats due to his pro-Israel views, following an arson attack on his office.
In Canada, Jewish pro-Israeli Tory MP Melissa Lantsman and other politicians have been given police protection due to safety concerns.
Selina Robinson, a former cabinet minister who is Jewish, criticized the tolerance for antisemitism among her NDP colleagues, expressing concerns about chants advocating for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.
Why are we allowing this to happen?
A recent survey by the Harvard-Harris Research Institute revealed that 82 percent of Americans support Israel, with only 18 percent in favor of Hamas. Sixty-eight percent believe that Israel is working to reduce civilian casualties, contrary to what the CBC implies.
Canadian polls have shown similar sentiment.
In her resignation letter, Robinson accurately described the situation of the Jewish community as historically being the first to experience intolerance.
Robinson emphasized the threats faced by the Jewish community, including antisemitism in civil society, fears about sending children to school, and calls for action to address these issues.
As a society, we must take action to ensure that our citizens no longer feel afraid and prevent this from becoming the norm.
Similar to the United States' Canary Mission, efforts should be made to identify provocateurs, press charges, and educate people about the harmful agendas of these groups.
- Having two full-time jobs won't benefit employees
- Youths are refusing the current widespread awareness and concern for social and political issues
- Employers are facing difficulties due to the decisions made by the courts
The government should mandate the police to carry out their duties and start making regular arrests. If they don't, the Jewish community in North America should follow the example of the Jews in Israel and refuse to live in fear, instead demanding action and using legal measures to ensure action is taken. Those responsible should be publicly named and shamed to diminish their influence. This will help the problem to eventually fade away.
Howard Levitt holds a senior position at Levitt Sheikh, a firm specializing in employment and labor law with offices in Toronto and Hamilton. He specializes in employment law in eight provinces and has written six books, including the Law of Dismissal in Canada. He's written six books including the Law of Dismissal in Canada.
Make sure to stay updated on the business news you need by adding financialpost.com to your bookmarks and signing up for our newsletters here.
