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

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 09, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is expressing deep concern over Ontario Premier Doug Ford's recent statements regarding pro-Palestinian protests, highlighting what appears to be a discriminatory double standard. Premier Ford has previously affirmed that protests are an integral part of Canada’s democratic society. However, his specific criticisms of pro-Palestinian encampments in Ontario suggest these protests are particularly problematic, characterizing them as uniquely hateful and disruptive. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 07, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is urging Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to reconsider his decision to celebrate the creation of the State of Israel by raising the Israeli flag at City Hall on May 14, 2024. Especially when Israel's brutal military operations in Gaza have led to staggering Palestinian casualties and destruction, such a gesture on the part of the City of Ottawa is extremely insensitive. Many international observers have criticized these actions as disproportionate and in violation of human rights. Additionally, assertions at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) indicate that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, May 2, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) is urging Canadian universities to take seriously the calls from student protesters for a ceasefire and to stop investing in organizations linked with Israel. The universities’ complete dismissal of their students' divestment demands perpetuates a cycle of racism, as it involves both ignoring and funding human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian territories. Continue reading

View this statement in pdf format. Montreal, Apr 24, 2024— The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) expresses its consternation over the actions taken by the Chilliwack School District (CSD) in Chilliwack, BC following a complaint by B’nai Brith Canada. These actions include an apology by the CSD prior to an investigation into a teacher who discussed the Israel-Palestine conflict in a Grade 12 Genocide Studies class. The ARPCF believes it is fully justified for the oppression of Palestinians to be examined in a CSD high school genocide studies class, especially in light of the many reliable assertions presented to the International Court of Justice suggesting that Palestinians are facing a genocide. Continue reading