B’NAI BRITH CANADA CALLS UPON NDP LEADERSHIP CONTENDERS TO REPUDIATE DAVIES, ROBINSON ACTION AT CONCORDIA

An appeal to all NDP leadership candidates

Toronto, November 13, 2002

For Immediate Release

Toronto, November 13, 2002… Svend Robinson, Libby Davies, and Judy Rebick are planning to participate in a debate on the Middle East at Concordia University, sponsored by the Concordia Student Union this Friday, in defiance of a moratorium on such activities in the wake of the anti-free speech riots of September 9^th. B’nai Brith Canada calls upon you, those who are seeking to lead the New Democratic Party, to demonstrate your leadership by repudiating this expression of irresponsible and one sided views in a manner not consistent with the orderly conduct of academic life. Robinson has said of the conflict and his loyalties “…I do take the side of life over death”. (Letter of June 2^nd, 2002) In this one sentence the extreme bias and irresponsibility of Mr. Robinson is exposed.

Rochelle Wilner, President of B’nai Brith Canada, stated “It is not only the Jewish community that is watching these developments with unease, it is as well the student population who voted overwhelmingly to oust a student union executive with precisely the same disdain for even-handedness and the same support for groups using violence to silence free speech as the current one. It is this group that has invited Mr. Robinson, Ms. Davies, and Ms. Rebick. Show your respect for the will of the students, for institutions of higher learning, and for fair and free debate by repudiating this appearance.”

Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President, congratulated the university on its principled stand. “Though we did not support the imposition of the moratorium, we are pleased to see that the administration discourages this violation. We expect that they will follow through on their commitment, by enforcing the moratorium and stopping the event. We expect as well that the candidates for NDP leadership will respect the will of a publicly funded institution, and rein in Ms. Davies and Mr. Robinson.”

Stephen Scheinberg, Chairman of the League for Human Rights, and a Professor at Concordia, reminded the leadership candidates that “Mr. Robinson and his confederates are coming to the aid of those who stopped free speech at Concordia on Sept 9. These people, who now pretend to be the protectors of free speech, instead make a mockery of it. Surprisingly, for someone who is perceived as being supportive of the labour movement, Robinson never consulted with the executive of the Union of Professors here about the appropriateness of his appearance.”

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For further information, please contact Professor Stephen Scheinberg at 514-848-2401

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