B’nai Brith Canada calls for Concordia Riot Inquiry

Montréal, September 20, 2002

For Immediate Release

Montréal, September 20^th, 2002… The Quebec regional offices of B’nai Brith Canada today called on the Premier of Quebec to appoint a Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the September 9th riot at Concordia University in Montréal.

On September 9^th, the attendees of a lecture to be given by the duly elected former Prime Minister of a democratic country were subjected to harassment and physical attacks by the rioters. This was a gross violation of our fundamental freedoms, as well as the academic freedom a university should cherish and protect. Yet, even before the riot, students of the university had been subjected to a growing atmosphere of hate, bigotry, racism and antisemitism.

The rights and freedoms set out in the Quebec and Canadian Charters guarantee the freedoms of thought, belief, opinion and expression, as well as peaceful assembly, and the right to life, liberty, and security of the person. Me. Steven Slimovitch, National Legal Counsel for B’nai Brith stated that “the climate at Concordia has been allowed to fester for far too long, and we commend the university administrators’ latest measures in taking the bull by horn.” He added, that “However, only a commissioner vested with the powers under the Public Inquiries Act will have the full authority to shed light on what led the situation to deteriorate the way it did.”

The Honourable Gerry Weiner, Quebec Chair of Government Relations for B’nai Brith Canada, stated that “The incidents of September 9^th have raised serious questions, in the first instance, about the demonstrators and rioters who certainly bear the principal responsibility for these unacceptable acts in a free and democratic society.” Mr. Weiner added “There can be no excuse for activities violating Charter rights and Canadian criminal law, and flouting the University’s Code of Conduct. That being said, there are important questions to be answered regarding the responsibilities of the Concordia administration and the response of the Montreal Police.”

In terms of Concordia, B’nai Brith would ask the inquiry commissioner to determine the role of the university administration in overseeing the activities of student groups that participate in fostering a climate of antagonism and incitement to violence. The commissioner should also determine whether the local and national police forces have adequate mechanisms in place to permit healthy debate in public institutions such as Concordia University while maintaining peace and security. We would also like the inquiry commissioner to determine what role various individuals, student organizations such as the Concordia Student Union and other outside groups may have played in this riot, so that measures may be implemented to prevent recurrences.

With regard to the police, B’nai Brith — which went on record with its concerns of possible violence given the rhetoric of the demonstration by organizers — asks why the Montréal police services were so ill-prepared to provide security to students and visitors to a planned event, and seemingly did not have appropriate contingency plans in the event of violence

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For more information contact:
Me. Steven Slimovitch, National Legal Counsel for B’nai Brith: (514) 871-8971
The Honourable Gerry Weiner, Quebec Chair of the Government Relations Bureau: (514) 244-2688

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.