The Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) is alarmed by the presence of the Nazi swastika and the Confederate flag and the misappropriation of the Yellow Star of David by some demonstrators on Parliament Hill this week. As Bernie Farber, CEO of the Canadian Anti-Race Network said on CBC Newsroom: “ … worst display of racist and Nazi propaganda that I have ever seen in this country …I have never, ever seen anything like this.”
Most Canadians agree with and uphold the democratic right of citizens to protest and express their opposition to government policy. Yet many are taken aback by the distasteful and overt waving of offensive symbols of racist hatred on Parliament Hill. Surely this action crosses the line of civil behaviour.
More upsetting and distressful is the lack of reaction to these provocative signs from the organizers of this demonstration. Holocaust survivors who live among us and who experienced the horrors of the Nazis are especially distraught and fearful at the sight of these symbols of intolerance.
Misappropriating the Yellow Star as a point of comparison between the necessity to vaccinate Canadians during the pandemic and Nazi racism policies is offensive and odious.
Following so closely on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th and the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack against Islamophobia on January 29th, these symbols of intolerance create fear and worry in many Canadians.
CHES thanks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his stern words and applauds the Ottawa PoliceService for encouraging the public to report hate crimes and for their actions in charging those breaking the law.
The Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) stands with our political leaders in making common cause with our partners and the majority of Canadians to continue the fight against antisemitism and racism and to promote mutual understanding and human rights through our educational projects and activities.
