"When you write that “University officials also said they saw video evidence of ‘some people using unequivocally antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour’ on campus,” it should be clarified if CBC has seen any of the alleged evidence. Given the sensitive nature of these events, CBC must be clearer on these points."
April 29, 2024
To:
Matthew Lapierre, Digital Journalist, CBC Montreal
Erika Morris, Journalist, CBC Montreal
Nancy Waugh, Sr Manager, Journalistic Standards, CBC News
Dear Matthew Lapierre, Erika Morris, and Nancy Waugh,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concerns regarding your article: “Pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill campus grows on 3rd day,” published on April 29.
First, your subtitle not only gives voice to McGill’s officials but also to their allegations of antisemitism against pro-Palestinian students. Despite university officials failing to share the alleged evidence of antisemitism at the on-campus protest, your subtitle reads, “University officials allege protesters used 'antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour.’” Given the numerous cases of false allegations of antisemitism on university campuses since protests began, more care should be exercised when reporting these allegations. A Twitter thread shows a small sample of such examples, including pro-Israel students chanting anti-Semitic phrases, which were widely misreported as being a protest chant. While you do frame the claim as an allegation, it is unfortunate that an allegation without evidence is the lead into an article about a protest against genocide.
When you write that “University officials also said they saw video evidence of ‘some people using unequivocally antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour’ on campus,” it should be clarified if CBC has seen any of the alleged evidence. Given the sensitive nature of these events, CBC must be clearer on these points.
Similarly, in your article, you give the first voice and more voice to McGill officials and the university’s media relations office than you do to protesters or their supporters.
Next, while you write that Montreal protesters “joined a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations held on campuses across the U.S. who want to see universities divest from companies with business ties to Israel,” this is not the complete picture of their intentions. You don’t give voice to protesters to assert them properly.
If one takes a look at the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill Instagram page, one might find a post in collaboration with the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), Palestinian Youth Movement Montreal (PYMMontreal), SPHR Concordia (SPHRCONU), and National SJP clearly stating that they are protesting “their universities’ continued investment in the Zionist regime at a time of ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza… This is coming at heels of dozens of students across North America defying their academic institutions’ links to a genocidal regime despite increased repression on university campuses.”
Unfortunately, you only give voice to pro-Palestine protesters to comment on issues that McGill officials have raised, allegations of antisemitism and intimidation on the protesters’ part, or to shed light on their calls asking people to join the encampments.
Please include more context on why Canadian students are encamping by giving voice to them and mentioning the genocide in Gaza. This should not be done at the expense of being unbalanced by covering allegations of safety or antisemitic issues without providing proper evidence to back any of them, but voices from university officials.
I hope CBC will make these changes and consider my suggestions in future reporting of the students’ encampments in response to their universities’ roles in the genocide in Gaza.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East