View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, July 05, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) strongly criticizes statements by Public Safety Canada (PSC) that dangerously mischaracterized pro-Palestine advocacy and protests as extensions of terrorist activities. These statements falsely frame the Palestinian struggle for rights and self-determination under Israeli occupation as terrorism. This framing not only distorts the peaceful nature of these protests but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes of Palestinians and their supporters as inherently violent. This systemic depiction of pro-Palestine solidarity as inherently hateful, violent, antisemitic, terrorist, uncivilized, unintelligent, and backward constitutes a form of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR), according to the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association’s definition of APR. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, Jun 27, 2024 — The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns the recent deportation order of aid worker Majeda Sarassra as an act of anti-Palestinian racism (APR) that denies Palestinian experiences and criminalizes Palestinian everyday life under Israeli military occupation. Sarassra was a West Bank-based employee of the International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy Canada (IRFAN-Canada), where she worked part-time in the city of Bethlehem. Her role involved distributing financial aid to children whose fathers had died, providing crucial support to needy families in Palestine. By targeting Sarassra for her employment with IRFAN-Canada, Canadian authorities are effectively penalizing her for participating in humanitarian efforts within the context of her life under Israeli occupation. This action not only dismisses the lived realities of Palestinians but also undermines their right to provide aid and support within their communities. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) expresses deep concern over the recent dismissal of Asad Gondal by B.C. United, following his candid remarks about the situation in Gaza. The decision to drop Mr. Gondal as a candidate due to his description of the war in Gaza as a genocide highlights a troubling instance of anti-Palestinian racism. The ARPCF believes that this act not only silences critical voices but also perpetuates a denial of the severe human rights abuses and violence faced by Palestinians. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns the systemic anti-Palestinian racism exhibited by the Toronto police, particularly through the actions of its Hate Crimes Unit. This unit, under the guise of combating hate crimes, has engaged in surveillance, night raids, and unjust arrests targeting the Palestinian solidarity movement. Such actions fail to acknowledge Palestinians as an integral part of Canadian society, with the right to express their political views and advocate for justice without fear of reprisal. This pattern of behavior is not isolated but is part of a broader issue of structural racism and colonial violence within Canadian policing. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, Jun 11, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) strongly condemns the suspected racially-motivated arson on Wateroak Drive in London Ontario, which London Police are investigating as a potential hate crime. This incident, where an individual allegedly set fire to a family's front porch and removed pro-Palestinian signage, represents more than mere vandalism; it is a clear example of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) and broader hate-driven behavior in our communities. As if their intents weren’t already clear enough, the suspect left a note on the porch, which read, “One more time if I see you put that stupid (expletive) Free Palestine…I’m warning you.” Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, Jun 06, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (APRCF) expresses profound concern regarding the recent decision by the Whitehorse City Council to block a motion supporting Palestine. This decision, justified by Mayor Laura Cabott's claim that the motion is "divisive" and not in the community's best interest, clearly manifests anti-Palestinian racism. This form of racism systematically excludes Palestinian voices and their rights to sympathy and solidarity through the use of vague political language and administrative excuses, reducing their existence to what Giorgio Agamben describes as "bare life," where their basic human rights are continuously negotiable and denied. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 27, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) echoes the sentiments of the recent press release and media brief issued by The Coalition for Palestinian and Muslim Families and Students (CPMFS), which vehemently condemns the Peel District School Board's (PDSB) failure to safeguard the rights and well-being of pro-Palestinian and Muslim students. In recent months, particularly since October, the CPMFS has documented a significant increase in incidents of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) within schools under the PDSB's jurisdiction. These incidents have not only gone unaddressed by the board but have also been exacerbated by the board's actions, which effectively silence and marginalize pro-Palestinian students who speak out about the atrocities faced by Palestinians in Gaza and their ongoing struggles. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 23, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) supports the B.C. Teachers' Federation’s recommendation to include the Nakba and Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in the British Columbia curriculum. Acknowledging the Nakba and the suffering of the Palestinian people corrects a significant historical omission, addressing anti-Palestinian racism (APR) that manipulates historical narratives and perpetuates Palestinian victimhood. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 17, 2024 - The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is appalled at the revelations from a recent Breach article which provides a whistleblower view of the CBC’s coverage of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The whistleblower documented shocking systemic bias against Palestinian narratives at the CBC, revealing deep-seated anti-Palestinian racism (APR) within the national broadcaster. The article describes repeated instances when the CBC has consistently downplayed and/or misrepresented the severity of Israel's violence in Gaza, shaping a public narrative that largely ignores Palestinian suffering. This systemic APR inevitably perpetuates the status quo of power inequity between the occupier and the occupied. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 13, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is expressing deep concern over the recent “Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents” report issued by B'nai Brith Canada (BBC), which it finds rife with anti-Palestinian racism (APR). By systematically conflating legitimate criticism of Zionism and Israeli policies with antisemitism, BBC not only mischaracterizes the advocacy for Palestinian rights but also endorses a narrative that perpetuates discrimination against Palestinian activism. This narrative seeks to normalize racism against Palestinians, silence support for Palestinian human rights, legitimize the racial and colonial nature of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and legalize the racial nature of the Zionist political movement. Continue reading