"It is disappointing that this radio segment took this opportunity to attack and discredit Kiana Lede and not discuss why she was wearing a Keffiyeh patterned cardigan. This radio segment should have brought light to the proven allegations of genocide against Israel and not about how inappropriate it is."
February 5, 2024
To:
Roy Green, Host, The Roy Green Show, AM980 (CFPL)
Tom Craig, Technical/Podcast Producer, The Roy Green Show
Trudy Shaw, Program Director, AM980 (CFPL)
Dear Roy Green, Tom Craig, and Trudy Shaw,
I am writing to express concern about the Roy Green Show radio segment that aired on February 4, 2024, at 21:23.
In this radio segment, Joe Warmington discusses Kiana Lede’s cardigan-styled Keffiyeh that she wore in her national anthem performance in the NHL All-Star Game, but there are several issues that I’d like to point out.
In all, inviting Joe Warmington while not inviting Palestinians or the singer herself to explain the importance of the keffiyeh and the broader context of a plausible genocide in Gaza and allowing him to make some controversial statements made this radio segment one-sided.
Roy Green should have invited the singer herself and Palestinians to report on this story in a balanced and accurate way.
It is disappointing that this radio segment took this opportunity to attack and discredit Kiana Lede and not discuss why she was wearing a Keffiyeh patterned cardigan.
This radio segment should have brought light to the proven allegations of genocide against Israel and not about how inappropriate it is. Warmington saying that: “She actually says things that Israel is committing genocide,” as if she’s making an unproven claim should have been challenged. The ICJ, one of the UN’s highest courts, has ruled that Israel is plausibly committing genocide, that it has to prevent and punish genocide incitement, take all measures to prevent genocide, and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Being shocked about someone wearing a Keffiyeh as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people facing genocide while the NHL has allowed playing the Ukrainian national anthem before hockey games is hypocrisy at its finest.
Warmington also conflates pro-Israel/Zionism with antisemitism in an attempt to defame Lede.
Warmington said [about Lede’s statements]: “For people who support the Zionists, sit their ass down.” He then adds: “I don’t think he would say that to Gary Bettman, who's Jewish and also the Commissioner of the NHL [….] and Drake, he’s Jewish as well.”
This type of narrative seeks to conflate antizionism and antisemitism, while these two concepts are not the same. According to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), “antisemitism is discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because they are Jewish.” Anti-Zionism, in another part, is “standing against the creation of a nation-state with exclusive rights for Jews above others on the land.”
In other words, Jewish people can be anti-Zionists. To imply that Zionism equals Judaism is a dangerous conflation to make and is a form of antisemitism for Jewish people who seek the liberation of Palestine and Palestinians. In fact, Drake, whom Warmington describes as Jewish, has even signed the artists’ open letter for a ceasefire in Gaza(artists4ceasefire.org).
Roy Green should have talked about the situation in Gaza and challenged Warmington’s controversial statements about Kiana Lede and his conflation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism.
I hope The Roy Green show will give space and voice to critical perspectives, such as Palestinians, shed light on the situation in Gaza, and challenge his guests’ controversial statements in the future.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East