Canadian Universities Throbbing With Antisemitism

"The goal ... is for these encampments to come to an end in a peaceful way, in a way that respects and upholds legitimate freedom of expression and academic freedom. But yes, we need our universities to be able to return to a place where everyone is able to learn and feel secure and safe on campus."

"[The] biggest gap [is understanding and awareness for all individuals on campus about what is] legitimate criticism [and what is hate speech.]"

"There's no question we have to do much, much better on this. And I think there may be instances where the sensitivity to the importance of antisemitism isn't as great as it needs to be."

Universities Canada president, CEO Gabriel Miller

"They're making a lot of noise and upsetting a lot of people. But we have to recognize that it's only a relatively small minority of the population that's involved in this stuff."

"It [Israel] was viewed as a heroic struggle to form the State of Israel. And after the Holocaust, it was viewed widely as absolutely necessary for the security of the Jewish population of the world."

"[Later generations might recall the Oslo Accords when both sides] seemed reasonable and capable of compromise."

"...There's the oversimplified things they've [younger demographic] been taught and it's also the era in which they've been brought up."

Robert Brym, emeritus professor, University of Toronto

A woman walks between the tents in the pro-Palestinian encampment set up at the University of Toronto campus on May 26, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)

 

In late April the first anti-Israel encampment took place at McGill University, then protest encampments popped up at the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto and the University of Alberta, following the lead of similar events at American universities. The demands the protesters put forth are that ties must be cut with Israel, that universities end academic linkages with Israeli universities and that universities divest from companies doing business with Israel.

Rhythmic chants of hostile passion such as "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free" clearly signal the protesters advocate for the destruction of Israel and eradication of Jews. Signage posted that "This is the intifada", and "Glory to all martyrs", have provoked controversy and claims that poisonous antisemitism has thoroughly infiltrated Canadian academia where Jewish students and academics have been refused entry to the universities in question, threatened and occasionally suffer physical violence.

Despite that university administrators have attempted to close down the encampments they have met with little success when issuing demands the protesters leave their environs; demands have been met with adamant responses that nothing will deter those protesting from exercising their civil and constitutional rights guaranteeing free speech. 'Free speech' that tangoes with racial discrimination, threats and coercion fall into illegal persecution of minorities, however.

Police cracked down in Alberta when groups of protestors set up their camps at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta. Tear gas was used to break up the camp protests. In some instances administrators agreed to meet the demands of the mobs. School administrators at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa agreed to publish a report on its investments and to fund three scholarships for Palestinians from Gaza who have arrived in Canada.

The University of Victoria declined the demand to boycott Israeli universities, citing academic freedom, but agreed to other demands such as sharing information relating to investments. At University of Toronto a deadline for the camp to disperse by Monday through a trespass notice issued Friday was ignored. The observation has been made by university administrators that a good proportion of those protesting have no links to the universities, they are not students but outside agitators and organizers.

The heads of the four largest universities in Canada, appearing before the Commons Justice committee on combating antisemitism in Canada spoke of antisemitism on their campuses as a "significant problem". It is "simply unacceptable" that Jewish students are intimidated on campus, stated president and vice-chancellor of McGill University Deep Saini, a sentiment echoed by  the presidents of Concordia University, University of British Columbia and University of Toronto. 

At the same time admitting that no faculty members had been disciplined for antisemitic incidents despite an unspecified number of internal investigations, a process they respected given due time. Meric Gertler, president of University of Toronto stated an unspecified number of students were suspended or expelled for violating the school's code of conduct, incidents unrelated to the three-week-old encampment on the school grounds.

"Actions are underway, but it does take some time to follow the process", he said the day his administration filed for a court injunction against the encampment. Members of Parliament from all parties questioned the four university presidents regarding a disconnect between their words denouncing antisemitism on their campuses and their actions. "University has absolutely become a place for hate and intolerance", said Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman. 

 

"There seems to be a disconnect between what [students] are saying and then what you're saying", commented Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin, given that many Jewish students and Jewish groups on campuses in Canada report having been attacked both verbally and physically. Incidents of this character aside, said Miller, university rules enforcement against hate speech is a challenge. The "biggest gap", he stated, is understanding and awareness for all concerned on campus between what constitutes "legitimate criticism" and hate speech.

The University of Toronto filed for a court injunction on Monday to evict pro-Palestinian protesters encamped at its downtown campus since May 2, as the student-led demonstrators say they will not leave until their demands are met. Here, supporters of Palestinians in Gaza set up the encampment on May 2. (Kyaw Soe Oe/Reuters)