Antisemitic posters that have sprung up around the University of Victoria campus has caught the eye of a national Jewish advocacy group.
Posters were observed on the UVic campus last month saying B次元官网网址�(((Those))) who hate us will not replace us,B次元官网网址� and providing links to white supremacist websites. The posters also said B次元官网网址淒efend Canadian heritageB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淔ight back against anti-white hatredB次元官网网址� in what is said to be B次元官网网址淎 message from the Alt-Right.B次元官网网址�
The university says campus security was informed of the posters Oct. 18, responding to find that students and a teaching assistant had already removed the posters.
The posters drew public attention after being exposed by the Facebook group , which is calling on students to attend a Nov. 15 meeting to discuss a campus anti-racist strategy. The group advises anyone to see similar posters to B次元官网网址減romptly rip them down.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e were obviously very concerned when we learned about this,B次元官网网址� said Daniel Koren, media co-ordinator with BB次元官网网址橬ai Brith Canada.
He said the triple parentheses are frequently used by online neo-Nazis to identify Jews, adding the wording B次元官网网址渋s an obvious nod to the slogans the white supremacists were chanting during the infamous torchlight rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.B次元官网网址�
Campus security conducted a search of buildings across campus and found no other posters. The investiation continues, and anyone with information is asked to contact campus security.
B次元官网网址淭he University of Victoria has a deep commitment to being a diverse and welcoming community,B次元官网网址� said Cassbreea Dewis, acting director
of equity and human rights at UVic. B次元官网网址淲e are profoundly disappointed that anyone would post offensive discriminatory material like this; at the same time, these incidents reinforce EQHRB次元官网网址檚 commitment to expanding and deepening our work.B次元官网网址�
While many might see antisemitism as more of a 20th century issue, with Muslims a more likely target of racists today, Koren says that isnB次元官网网址檛 the case. He said statistics compiled by his organization show that members of the Jewish community are most targeted for hate crimes.
B次元官网网址淚t also shows that Muslims are definitely the fastest rising group in terms of hate crimes. But Jews, even though weB次元官网网址檙e just a fraction of the Muslim population in Canada, we are still the most targeted for hate crimes,B次元官网网址� said Koren, adding that their audit shows that 2016 was the worst year for antisemitism since they started keeping track 36 years ago.
Koren says posters targeting Jews have appeared at American universities, however, this is the first incident he is aware of in Canada. Posters promoting Holocaust denial were placed around the University of Calgary in February.
He called on the university administration and student groups to publicly condemn the antisemitic rhetoric.
B次元官网网址淲hen we see such types of hatred B次元官网网址� whether itB次元官网网址檚 targeting Muslims, Jews, members of the LGBTQ community B次元官网网址� our organization believes itB次元官网网址檚 important to stand up against this type of hatred. This is not what we believe should be taking place in Canada in 2017.B次元官网网址�
Dewis said the university takes incidents of racism, discrimination and harassment very seriously, and are committed to responding through the hard work of offices across campus and a suite of university policies that guide our response.
B次元官网网址淓QHR is partnering with offices and groups across campus to raise awareness and encourage dialogue about addressing the root causes of all forms of discrimination and racism in society.B次元官网网址�
A believed to be from a UVic student drew a reaction from university administration in September.
