August 11, 2025
MONTREAL – After an arrest in connection with a vicious assault on a visibly Jewish man in front of his young children Friday, B’nai Brith Canada is urging city officials in Montreal to take immediate action.
“B’nai Brith Canada is relieved that police have arrested a suspect in this case,” said Richard Robertson, our organization’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “What happened Friday afternoon was shocking and horrific. It must serve as a wake-up call for the entire municipality.
“This is what happens when our leaders tolerate an atmosphere in which hateful thugs feel empowered to act with impunity.”
During the assault, which occurred in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension area, the suspect is alleged to have beaten a visibly Jewish man in front of his children, tossing the victim’s kippah into a nearby fountain.
The Montreal police did not mention the victim’s Jewish identity in its announcement of Monday’s arrest, nor the fact that his kippah was thrown into a fountain.
“Omitting such critical facts does a disservice to the public and gives the impression that the authorities are tone-deaf to the crisis Jews in Montreal are facing on a daily basis,” Robertson said. “With the situation continuing to devolve, Jewish Canadians need leaders to pay more than mere lip service to antisemitism. We need all levels of government to take clear and unequivocal positions on combating this scourge of hate.”
This fall, Montreal will be electing its next municipal government. At the ballot box, voters will be able to hold the current administration accountable for its role in enabling the existing climate of division and incitement.
“The City [of Montreal] needs leadership that is capable of ensuring the safety and well-being of every citizen,” Robertson concluded.
