For Immediate Release
Toronto, October 14, 2003… B’nai Brith Canada noted with appreciation that Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert has responded to its call for a public statement denouncing a controversial NDP cartoon, and reiterated its request that NDP leader Jack Layton to do the same.
Rochelle Wilner, National President of B’nai Brith Canada, stated: “This cartoon trivializes the crimes of the Holocaust and causes undeserved anguish to those who survived that evil regime. We are gratified that the Saskatchewan Premier has spoken out against this crude and unwarranted attack on Elwin Hermanson. There is nothing in the platform of any political party in Canada that would warrant the drawing of such an odious parallel.”
Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President noted: “There is a growing, unhappy sense that the NDP has become something of a home to many who cloak their latent antisemitism in the guise of left-wing activism. For this reason as well, although the incident occurred within the ranks of the Saskatchewan NDP, we nevertheless ask Mr. Layton to issue a public statement deploring the ugly symbolism that was used in the cartoon, and distancing the federal party from any such sentiments.”
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For more information call Joseph Ben Ami, Director of Communications at (613) 294-7313
B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights agency.
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