August 26, 2021
Dear Mayor Tory and Premier Ford,
The thought of Bikers for Palestine travelling through neighborhoods in Toronto is reminiscent of the gangs in Germany who spread lies and hatred of Jews in cities, towns and countryside. These individuals are either ignorant of facts or dangerously antisemitic, and must be stopped. Their message is distorted, disgusting, deceitful and divisive and a city that prides itself on inclusivity in a province that has adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism is totally unacceptable.
We are not just asking that their route exclude Jewish neighborhoods because their goal is wrong and Jews live throughout the city and non-Jews do not need to see this poisonous venom either. The message must be that Toronto won’t tolerate the intolerable!
We value freedom for all, and denying the Jewish people their rights, including the right to live free of persecution, exclusion, denigration and harassment is a goal that the City must uphold.
Please take our concerns seriously and end this oppressive attack on Jews and the Jewish national homeland.
Respectfully,
Andria Spindel
Executive Director
Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation