Montreal, July 2, 2025 — The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns York Region’s dismissal of paramedic Katherine Grzejszczak over a social media comment criticizing Israel’s violence in Palestine. The ARPCF argues that this punitive measure is a clear example of anti-Palestinian racism, as Grzejszczak’s expression of solidarity with Palestinian victims of Israeli violence—rooted in CUPE Ontario’s long-standing anti-war stance—was met not with dialogue, but with professional retaliation. The ARPCF joins legal experts, free speech advocates, and labour organizations in demanding her immediate reinstatement.
“This incident is part of a broader and growing pattern in Canada in which Palestinian solidarity is treated as inherently hateful or dangerous, despite being grounded in widely recognized principles of human rights and international law,” said Jamila Ewais, Lead Researcher with the ARPCF . “Grzejszczak’s post condemned Israel’s bombing of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, and voiced outrage at the killing of civilians, especially children and healthcare workers. Her speech was not hateful nor incited violence; rather, it reflected moral outrage at a humanitarian crisis. Punishing such expression reinforces a disturbing double standard, where Palestinian voices—and those who support them—are uniquely censored, surveilled, and criminalized,” added Ewais.
The conflation of Palestinian advocacy with antisemitism or hate speech is itself a form of anti-Palestinian racism. Grzejszczak’s removal reflects an alarming trend in which employees, students, and activists across Canada are penalized simply for acknowledging Palestinian suffering or criticizing Israeli policies. The International Court of Justice has affirmed the plausibility of genocide in Gaza, and countless human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have concluded that Israel is committing genocide. Silencing those who call attention to these atrocities not only betrays democratic values—it emboldens oppression.
The ARPCF calls on York Region to reverse this discriminatory decision and to affirm its commitment to Charter-protected rights, including freedom of expression. Governments and employers must not create environments where individuals fear professional repercussions for standing against genocide or speaking up for human rights. The ARPCF further urges public institutions to acknowledge anti-Palestinian racism as a systemic issue, and to adopt explicit protections for political expression related to Palestine. Canadians must be free to advocate for justice—without fear, censorship, or reprisal.
About the ARPCF – The mandate of the Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is to create public awareness about racism in Canada. This mandate falls in line with the Foundation’s broader purpose of monitoring and combating manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination by increasing public awareness of such biases.
For more information, please contact Jamila Ewais, 514-389-8668
ARPCF, [email protected] www.cjpmefoundation.org
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