CAEF Letter to Mayor Hamlin and Members of Collingwood Town Council Re: Remove Jew hatred from the Streets of Collingwood
- CAEF
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
July 25, 2025
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin and Council
City of Collingwood
Collingwood, Ontario
Dear Mayor Hamlin and Council;
It has come to our attention that on a regular weekly basis, a group identifying itself as Simcoe-county4palestine has been holding a protest on the main street in Collingwood, causing discomfort, harassment and potential threats to the Jewish community of Collingwood. Clearly, Mayor Hamlin, you and Council need consider the implications and impact of the town hosting hate on its main street and ask: why are Jews targeted? Why are there no protests about conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen? Where is the protest against China for incarcerating 1,000,000 Muslim Uigurs, for the Islamist beheadings of Christians in Congo, for the kidnapping of Christian girls in Nigeria, and the massacre of minority Druze, Alawites and Christians in Syria as recently as last week? When the only protest is about Israel defending itself from Islamist terrorists, that is antisemitism.
Clearly, unarguably, the demonstration on your main street exemplifies antisemitism directed at Israel, the Jewish state which has been defending all its citizens--Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze since the barbaric attacks of October 7, 2023. It is time that the Council of Collingwood took a stand and declared it will not tolerate Jew hatred on its streets. This is not a matter of freedom of speech or freedom of association. Like, all the Islamist initiated and supported protests against Israel, that have been interrupting businesses and the lives of Canadians across the country, this display is abhorrent.
The conflict in the Middle East, between Canada’s ally, democratic Israel, and a listed terrorist organization, Hamas, is not likely on the agenda of Collingwood, nor should it be. Foreign Affairs is the purview of our federal government. Therefore, you might suggest that protesters take their hatred to Ottawa and get off your streets. The eradication of Israel, which Simcoe-county4palestine, would like, is never going to happen.
The hate group claims it is opposed to Zionism and uses accusative language to describe Zionists as ‘aggressive’ and ‘toxic’ which is not just offensive, but racist, and akin to the language used by the Nazis to denigrate Jews in Europe. Since 91% of Canadian Jews are Zionists and Zionism is the belief in Jewish rights to self-determination in Israel, the ancient and forever homeland of the Jews, this derogatory language is clearly aimed at Jews in Canada.
Mayor Hamlin, it has come to our attention that Collingwood Council has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, so we urge that you act on it. Here is an excerpt from your Minutes of April 2024:
13.2.6. PRC2024-04 Adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance
Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism
Acting Manager Parker reviewed the background and research supporting the
recommendation and establishment of a definition for antisemitism.
RES-160-2024
Moved by Councillor Potts
Seconded by Councillor Ring
THAT Staff Report PRC2024-04, Adopting the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, be
received;
AND THAT Council adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
(IHRA) non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism and list of
illustrative examples as adopted by the IHRA on May 26, 2016, which reads:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed
as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of
antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals
and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”;
AND THAT Council direct staff to continue working to building initiatives and
actions aimed at building awareness and understanding, combatting racism,
discrimination, exclusion and intolerance. (my emphasis)
Antisemitism, the oldest hatred, morphs from generation to generation, culture to culture, but it inherently sets Jews apart and blames Jews for whatever is the current evil or sin committed by humankind. CAEF is pleased that Council adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and we hope that you considered the 11 illustrative examples to help members understand what antisemitism looks like. Below is an example of explicit antisemitism under the IHRA. This is akin to calling all people of any other ethno-racial community by a slur or demeaning term. Zionism is not terrorism or any other evil; supporting Hamas is supporting terrorism.
Former Liberal MP Marco Mendicino made it abundantly clear on May 24, 2024 that
“Inciting violence against Zionists and calling them “racists” and “terrorists” is hate speech and a criminal offence…Zionists are an identifiable group on racial, religious, national, and/or ethnic grounds for the purpose sections 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code.”
Mayor Hamlin, words lead to deeds, and the proof of that is both WWII and the Rwandan and other genocides. More recently, the murder of two innocent Israelis outside an event in Washington, D. C. was prompted by radical hostile messages found on streets and in social media, and the lies that have become common place against Jews and their homeland, Israel.
Since Council is not likely to vote to demand Hamas lay down its arms, free the hostages, and cease to control the Gazans whom they have brainwashed since taking power in 2006, ask what is the purpose of the weekly display of Jew hatred? Is it to achieve anything other than to intimidate Jews, irritate your residents, and possibly generate more aggressive behaviour? The lies and bigotry on display are anathema to a wholesome, welcoming, inclusive community.
We look forward to receiving a response that Collingwood Town Council will take steps to affirm that it really believes “Hate has no place here,” and that includes no Jew hatred.
Respectfully,
Andria Spindel, Executive Director
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