Yesterday morning, Glendon Campus was evacuated by York University Security and the Toronto Police Service after receiving an anti-Semitic graffiti bomb threat. This type of discriminatory anti-Semitic threats have unfortunately become commonplace at York University in the past couple of years.
Anti-Semitism – prejudice against Jewish people on the basis of their faith or ethno-religious identity – is a hateful, discriminatory ideology. It is reprehensible and inexcusable. Threatening violence against the Jewish community here at York University is equally reprehensible and inexcusable. This incident clearly crosses the line that separates protected free speech from hate speech and incitement to anti-Semitic violence.
CUPE 3903 stands with York University’s Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to fighting prejudice and discrimination in general, and anti-Semitism in particular. We unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic statements, graffiti, violence, and threats of violence.
We will work with York University’s Jewish community, and its various representative organizations, to fight against anti-Semitism and make York a better, safer place for its Jewish students and employees.
Finally, we call on York University, our employer, to take this incident, and this trend, seriously. There has been an increase in the last couple of years in anti-Semitic incidents on campus, as well as other forms of discriminatory incidents – Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, white supremacy, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, among others.York University’s administration must do its utmost to guarantee that its campuses are safe for its diverse community of students and employees.