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Montreal, Aug 23, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns the recent campaign of defamation against Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario, which is orchestrated by certain pro-Israeli factions, media outlets, and even the CUPE National Executive. This campaign maliciously accuses Hahn of antisemitism based on decontextualized comments and a misrepresentation of his legitimate criticism of Israel's policies and actions. 

The uproar centers around a video Hahn shared, which critiques Israel's participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlighting the involvement of former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers as athletes. The ARPCF insists that this critical viewpoint is entirely legitimate and aligns with a broader international call to bar Israel from the Olympics due to its ongoing military actions in Gaza, actions that starkly contrast the global sporting community's decision to ban Russia for its aggression in Ukraine.

"Fred Hahn's critique of Israel's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and in particular the participation of former IDF soldiers as athletes, was a legitimate exercise of free speech aimed at highlighting discrepancies in international responses to human rights violations," stated Jamila Ewais, Lead Researcher at ARPCF. "Labeling such criticism as antisemitism is a classic tactic of anti-Palestinian racism, designed to silence and marginalize any dissent against Israeli policies." The ARPCF emphasizes that conflating criticism of a state's military actions with racial or religious hatred undermines genuine dialogue and accountability.

The campaign against Hahn escalated following his Facebook post on August 11, which included a video depicting an Olympic diver adorned with a Star of David transitioning to imagery of bombings in Gaza. The video caption introduced him as part of the Israeli Olympic team and ended by criticizing Israel’s genocide in Gaza. This portrayal was intended to criticize the moral paradox of celebrating athletes who may have participated in military operations against Palestinians. Unfortunately, this critical message was twisted by those who falsely accused it of being antisemitic, leading to calls for Hahn's resignation by the CUPE National Executive.

“This vilification campaign reflects broader systemic issues within Canadian and global discourse surrounding Palestine and Israel. The egregious misinterpretation of Hahn’s advocacy underscores a troubling trend where Palestinian solidarity is immediately and unjustly equated with hatred. This tactic is intended to silence and marginalize those who challenge injustices perpetrated by the Israeli state against Palestinians, as well as to intimidate others from expressing similar sentiments,” said Ewais.

The ARPCF calls on CUPE National and others to support open discussions on state violence and human rights, emphasizing the importance of labor leaders' freedom to express solidarity with oppressed groups like Palestinians without reprisal. It criticizes the mislabeling of anti-genocide and anti-occupation efforts as antisemitism, which harms advocates like Fred Hahn and restricts the broader movement for Palestinian rights. The "Stand with Fred" campaign by Labour for Palestine is urging trade unionists to oppose CUPE National’s efforts to oust Hahn, which it sees as an attack on democratic principles and global human rights solidarity.