"The article quotes a law student who says the Netanyahu’s effigy was 'wearing concentration camp attire.' However, journalist Rachel Lau clarifies that he was actually in 'horizontal black and white prison-like garb,' which is true. Unfortunately, on CJAD 800, it was reported as a fact that Netanyahu was 'wearing black and white concentration camp attire.'"
May 28, 2024
To:
Chris Bury, CTV News Montreal
Dear Chris Bury,
I’m writing to express serious concerns about false information aired during a CTV News segment on the radio (I heard it on CJAD 800 at 6:30 AM May 28, 2024), which seems to originate from a quote in a CTV News article, “Cutout of Netanyahu hanged from McGill University’s Roddick Gates.”
The article quotes a law student who says the Netanyahu’s effigy was “wearing concentration camp attire.” However, journalist Rachel Lau clarifies that he was actually in “horizontal black and white prison-like garb,” which is true. Unfortunately, on CJAD 800, it was reported as a fact that Netanyahu was “wearing black and white concentration camp attire.”
There is a notable difference between the clothing worn by holocaust victims and prisoners, which matters a great deal in this context. Nazi concentration camp attire featured vertical blue and white stripes while traditionally prison outfits had horizontal black and white stripes. Netanyahu has an ICC warrant for war crimes, so the connection makes some degree of sense, whether you agree with the tactic or not. If an individual saw this outfit and was reminded of the grim history of Nazism, it is fair to report on that. However, to state the connection in one person’s mind as a fact is simply not true.
Given the sensitive status of the encampment at McGill, special care should be exercised when reporting on it. To dress Netanyahu in concentration camp attire would be undeniably antisemitic, but that is not what happened and changes the story in important ways — even if one still finds it disturbing. This issue requires an on-air correction.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East