Peace Activists, Above The Law

"Throughout, York University has consistently emerged as an unambiguous focal point. It was the York Federation of Students that issued a statement in the immediate aftermath of the massacres deeming them a 'justified and necessary' act of 'resistance'. 'Chant sheets' distributed by the federation at protests also contain calls of 'long live the intifada!'; a reference to violent Palestinian uprisings against Israel."

"York University law faculty were disproportionately represented in a mid-November petition asserting that the massacres should be 'contextualized', rather than condemned."

"And CUPE locals representing York University staff have issued multiple statements accusing Israel of 'genocide' and 'apartheid', while making no mention whatsoever of the Oct.7 massacres that sparked the current conflict. 'We remain dedicated to fighting against Canada's own settler-colonial violence' reads one comment [from the union]."

Tristin Hopper, Journalist, National Post

 

"We know that fighting antisemitism requires fighting anti-Palestinian racism and all forms of interlocking oppressions; none of us will be free until all of us are free."

Naomi Klein protest faction advisory 

Red paint and posters on an Indigo bookstore in Toronto accusing CEO Heather Reisman of "funding genocide." Photo by Photo by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre

Three York University staff members were arrested by police connecting them with vandalism of an Indigo bookstore in Toronto. They wore reflective vests and splashed red paint on the flagship store for the very particular purpose of accusing its CEO Heather Reisman of "funding genocide". Posters were pasted to the windows with that neat little accusation. In total, eleven people were arrested for what police deemed "hate-motivated mischief".

 

Following the arrests when names were released, three were identified as employees of York University. One, an associate professor. This was obviously publicity the school was less than pleased with, responding by placing the three on leave. A statement was released by the administration to the effect that its commitment to "free speech and open dialogue" did not embrace unlawful violations.

 

This led to 200 faculty and students walking out, characterizing the suspensions as "an effort to repress Palestine solidarity peace activism". The walkout was organized by a "coalition of York faculty", which took to carrying signage and distributing pamphlets for the walkout reading "Stop campus reprisals! Reinstate them NOW! Permanent ceasefire NOW!" 

 

 

"Canada Stop Arming Israel" banners were carried by protesters who massed outside the Toronto Police 52 Division downtown location with demands that the charges be dropped. Social activist Naomi Klein is set to head another demonstration outside the Indigo location at Bay and Bloor streets to put up additional posters denouncing "police intimidation tactics against peace activists". 

The protesters insist that the use of posters and ed paint to accuse a bookstore CEO of genocide is perfectly "legitimate and necessary" and should, moreover, be defended by administrators at York University. "Many faculty members are outraged that the administration has suspended these individuals rather than defending them publicly", huffed York  University associate professor Anna Zalik who specializes in critical development studies.

Indigo has been targeted by the Canadian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement meant to boycott any business enterprise with connections to the State of Israel. Reisman co-founded the HESEG Foundation, a Canadian-registered charity funding tuition of former "lone soldiers", foreign volunteers who join the Israeli Defense Forces.

This, according to the logic of the demonstrators, makes Indigo complicit in "war crimes", a "genocidal campaign" and "profiteering from Israeli war crimes". The Toronto police were denounced for "grotesque use of inflammatory language accusing the vandalism of connections to hate". The assertion is sanctimoniously put forward that simply accusing Israel and its supporters of genocidal war criminality cannot be interpreted as antisemitic. How can anyone reason with such logic?

On Nov. 10 the Indigo store at the intersection of Bay and Bloor streets in Toronto was found splashed with red paint and plastered with posters featuring the company’s CEO and founder, Heather Reisman.  Adam Cohen