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B’nai Brith Canada urges community to be vigilant after rash of antisemitic incidents across CanadaPosted On 11/18/09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
B’nai Brith Canada urges community to be vigilant after rash of antisemitic incidents across Canada
TORONTO, November 18, 2009 – After a slew of antisemitic incidents across Canada recently, B’nai Brith Canada is urging the community to exercise caution, to be on the alert, and to ensure that all appropriate security measures have been put in place. Calgary, Toronto, Oshawa, Woodstock, and Barrie have recently seen antisemitic incidents including swastikas and antisemitic slogans, including "Kill Jews" and "Six million more," spray-painted on Jewish community institutions, synagogues, Jewish community centers, Holocaust memorials, and Jewish-owned residential property.
“Antisemitism is a serious and ongoing problem here in Canada,” said Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President of B’nai Brith Canada. “After so many disgusting antisemitic incidents recently, we urge the community to be extra vigilant and to ensure that all appropriate security measures have been put in place.”
“The statistics published in B’nai Brith Canada’s 2008 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, as well as the data recorded so far in 2009, tell us that the problem of Jews being singled out for attack continues at an awful pace in regions all across Canada and that our community must exercise caution. We have encountered everything from harassment and vandalism to physical assaults on individuals.
“As always, B’nai Brith’s community Anti-Hate Hotline is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to provide assistance and consultation. We urge you to call this Hotline to report all acts of antisemitism and to contact your local police in the event of an emergency. Our trained professionals are available on an ongoing basis to offer their expertise on safety and security matters.
“We hope that the law enforcement officials across this nation treat these hate-crimes very seriously and dedicate the required resources to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The professionals at B’nai Brith stand ready to assist the community and the police in every way possible.”
To report any acts of antisemitism, please call 1-800-892-2624. We have experts ready to take your calls 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.
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For more information, please contact, Dan Rabkin, Communications Officer:
416-633-6224 X 140 / cell: 416-312-9173
B’nai Brith Canada has been active in Canada since 1875 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights agency
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