December 4, 2023
WATERLOO, Ont. – A problematic PhD candidate in political science is set to appear tonight for a “profound and enlightening evening” discussing Palestinian history and culture at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo.
But B’nai Brith is very concerned about the composition of the panel, which includes representatives of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM). This group has been responsible for organizing many of the hate rallies across Canada since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror-massacre.
Ghada Sasa, a graduate student at McMaster University in Hamilton, has recently made a name for herself on social media by calling for the boycott of Canadian employers and protesting “Zionists.”
On Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, Sasa chose to target 555 Jewish doctors for proudly “declaring their right to work openly as Zionists.” In her social media attack, Sasa failed to attach the letter in question – preventing her readers from learning that the letter was actually written to confront the worsening climate of antisemitism being experienced by medical professionals in Canada. By choosing to post the “Zionist” doctors’ names without any reference to the letter, Sasa predictably incited a wave of hate.
Tonight’s event also features David Mivasair as a representative of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), a fringe anti-Zionist organization. The purported purpose of including a representative of IJV is to provide the audience with a “Jewish Perspective,” yet it is common knowledge that IJV’s views are not representative of Canada’s mainstream Jewish community.
While there should be no issue with celebrating any community’s history and culture, B’nai Brith has deep concern with an event that explores “resistance” – especially considering that much of the antisemitism targeting Canadian Jews since Oct. 7 has been justified as violent “resistance” by the perpetrators.
“Sasa should never have composed her social-media post attacking Jewish doctors,” said Michael Mostyn, B’nai Brith Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “Implying that Zionism is racism is just as antisemitic today as it was yesterday.
“How sad that these organizers appear to be manipulating an event celebrating culture and heritage into one glorifying resistance. Any who attempt to do so are on the wrong side of history.”
