Joint Statement by CIJA and London Jewish Federation:
Targeting the homes of Jewish students outside Western University with a Nazi swastika was not only an act of antisemitism, but also an attack on the inclusive, democratic values that all Canadians share.
We are proud of the students who responded with solidarity and defiance, affirming their Jewish identity and promptly engaging authorities.
We commend London Police for swiftly arresting and charging the perpetrator with a hate-motivated offence under the Combatting Hate Act, important legislation our community helped advance.
But enforcement must be consistent nationwide and extremism must be stopped before it takes root.
We call on Minister
@SeanFraserMP to urgently convene provincial and territorial Attorneys General and Public Safety Ministers to coordinate enforcement of existing and new hate laws. And we urge authorities at all levels to confront the radicalization spreading across our campuses and throughout the country, where antisemitic libels and conspiracies about Jews and Israelis fuel hatred, violence and even terrorism.
Our organizations stand with the Jewish students targeted by this act of hate and remain committed to a Canada where everyone can live safely and express their identity without fear.