By Joel Goldenberg
A group of leaders from various communities wrote an open letter this week demanding Mayor Valérie Plante do more to counter antisemitism in Montreal.
The letter was signed by the Honourable Marlene Jennings, Ramon Vincente of Filipino Family Services, former Snowdon councillor Marvin Rotrand; Juleen Barrington, president of the Antigua and Barbuda Association; Elie Israel, Commissioner Ward 1 on the English Montreal School Board; Norman Simon, President, Canadians for Coexistence; Norberto Mandin, Founder, CPRM Community Radio; Luzviminda Mazzone, President, the Federation of Filipino Canadian Associations of Quebec; Yvonne Sam, Chair of the Rights & Freedom Committee of the Black Community Resource Centre; Dr. David Zuroff, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at McGill University; Gemma Raeburn Baynes, President, Playmas Caribbean Cultural Association; Andrew Caddell of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy and Cynthia Waite, president of Barbados House.
“We are united in our condemnation of the horrific spate of antisemitism that Montreal has witnessed since the Oct. 7 attack by the Hamas terrorists on Israel,” the signatories wrote. “We were shocked when hateful anti-Israel demonstrators appeared at the Agglomeration Council meeting of December 21, 2023 to attack the Town of Hampstead for having adopted a bylaw fining those caught tearing down posters which call for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by terrorists.”
The letter-writers added that they were disgusted to learn “that these demonstrators were urged at the Dec. 18 Montreal Council meeting by Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante and Alexander Norris, her party leader, to come to the Agglomeration Council to directly question the Mayor of Hampstead,” Jeremy Levi.
“That however fits a pattern. Mayor Plante has vigorously defended Bochra Manaï, the city’s Anti-Racism Commissioner, who unapologetically attended anti-Israel rallies where antisemitic chants were heard and at which a local Imam made remarks that were condemned by both Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Legault as antisemitic and inciting hate against Jews.”
The signatories applauded the Jewish Community Council and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs for demanding Manaï’s firing.
“While no city in North America has witnessed as many and as violent incidents targeting Jews over the last months as Montreal has, Mayor Plante has yet to give a full-throated and clear denunciation of antisemitism and call for Hamas to give up its arms and release the hostages. It is time for action.”
The letter-writers are asking Montrealers to support their demands that Manaï be immediately fired, as well as “a clear statement from Mayor Plante denouncing Hamas as a terrorist group and a call for the immediate unconditional release of the hostages; and the adoption by city council of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.”
The signatories concluded that they are not mollified by Alexander Norris’s recent loss of his role as Projét Montréal majority leader, which followed his defence of 16 anti-Israel questions, nothing to do with agglomeration affairs, at the December and January agglomeration meetings as freedom of speech.
“Unlike many of Canada’s big city Mayors, Mayor Plante has not vigorously condemned antisemitism. It is time she did. Am Israel Chai.” n