View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, July 29, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns the University of Manitoba Student Union's (UMSU) recent actions that prevent meaningful dialogue with pro-Palestinian student groups. UMSU's decision to postpone a meeting addressing anti-Palestinian racism, citing vague safety concerns, appears to be a tactic to avoid recognizing and addressing discrimination faced by Palestinian students on campus. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, July 18, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) questions Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles for changing a tweet following smear attacks by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FWSC) and Honest Reporting Canada (HRC). Stiles initially expressed admiration of the beauty of the Palestinian embroidery on July 15th 2024. FWSC and HRC criticized Stiles for her appreciation of Palestinian cultural displays at the Taste of the Middle East Toronto Festival, including one depicting a historical map of Palestine. Rather than defending this organic form of Palestinian representation, Stiles removed the initial embroidery image she had posted on her X account and replace it with another one. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, July 12, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) commends the University of Windsor for its progressive stance upholding decolonization values as reflected through its recent agreement with student activists. This agreement, a direct outcome of persistent student-led encampments, mandates the University of Windsor to undertake multiple significant actions. These include the partial disclosure of investments that impact Palestinian rights, the assurance of free expression for pro-Palestinian advocacy on campus, the establishment of an anti-oppression resource website, and mandatory training on anti-Palestinian racism and antisemitism. This comprehensive approach not only acknowledges the rights of Palestinians but also aligns the university's operations with international human rights standards. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, July 09, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns Alberta Health Services (AHS) for displaying both anti-Palestinian and anti-Indigenous racism within its practices. According to a recent reporting by Jeremy Appel in The Orchard, AHS officials have labeled calls for solidarity with Palestine as overly political, discriminatory, and violent, thereby ignoring the impact of genocide on Palestinian healthcare systems. Several such incidents were used to silence employees within the AHS who wished to express solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli occupation. Simultaneously, Appel’s article highlighted reports of a disturbing pattern of anti-Indigenous racism in Alberta, evident in failure to offer equitable services to First Nations patients. This systemic bias highlights a broader issue of institutional racism that undermines the health and dignity of colonized and Indigenous peoples, asserting a settler colonial structure that dehumanizes and marginalizes based on ethnicity and political convenience. Continue reading

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