"CJPME demands that reporting on pro-Palestinian protesters by the CBC does not dehumanize them in the process. Mr. Fraser’s report should make it clear that the attack by the counter-protester was unjustified. His use of force is a clear act against freedom of speech and a threat to all Canadians who want to exercise their inherent right to voice their opinion."
June 6, 2024
To:
David Fraser, Journalist, CBC News
Nancy Waugh, Managing Editor, CBC News
Brodie Fenlon, News Editor in Chief, CBC News
Paul Moore, Senior Adviser, CBC Journalistic Standards and Languages, CBC News
Dear Mr. Fraser, Ms. Waugh, Mr. Fenlon and Mr. Moore,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the article titled "Swiss national charged with assault at anti-war protest," published by CBC on June 5, 2024. The article presents a vague headline, a one-sided narrative of the actual protest that is being reported on and omits critical information about the pro-Palestine demonstration in Ottawa where a protester was violently attacked by a counter-protester. On top of that, your article fails to provide a fair or balanced perspective by excluding pro-Palestinian narratives from the story.
To start with, the article's headline is problematic. Using "Anti-war protest" in the headline is incredibly vague and misleading. The header’s ambiguity doesn’t clarify that the victim of the attack was at a pro-Palestine protest. This is an obvious double standard by the CBC. Since October, the CBC has had no issue mentioning “pro-Palestine” in headers in relation to protesters when the angle negatively frames people against the genocide in Gaza as vandalizers or inherently antisemitic or terrorist supporters.
A vague headline such as this one is a significant journalistic sin. Using vague and cliched nouns and verbs to inform an audience, especially in relation to a global conflict where Israel is currently committing genocide in Gaza, downplays the on-the-ground facts of what is happening.
Please correct your headline. Make it clear these are pro-Palestinian protesters who are against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Additionally, the article by Mr. Fraser provides zero context on the current genocide in Gaza. To accurately inform readers, it is crucial to include details about the Israeli military onslaught in Gaza that has led to these protests in the first place.
It is also surprising that Mr. Fraser covered a protest without providing a voice to World BEYOND War Canada, the organizers of the protest. Fraser doesn’t explain why World BEYOND War Canada was protesting. Instead, he just describes the protesters and the organization as "anti-war, pro-Palestine demonstration" and briefly mentions that they wish to "end war profiteering."
On Twitter, World BEYOND War Canada makes it clear that they are protesting Canada's global defense and security trade show to "end the Canadian government's complicity in the arms trade" and highlight "where the weapons devastating Rafah right now are being sold. Where Israeli military reps are trying to justify their genocide.” They explicitly state that they are demanding an arms embargo to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
As a journalist, it is your responsibility, Mr. Fraser, to explain why World BEYOND War Canada is calling Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide and that they are demanding an arms embargo to stop it.
Providing this information is essential for readers to understand the reason behind the protests. CJPME insists that articles by Mr. Fraser on Gaza and protests against Israel’s ongoing genocide include perspectives of pro-Palestinian advocates.
Furthermore, it is deplorable that Mr. Fraser omitted the fact that the victim of the attack by the Swiss counter-protester had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and that seven other protesters demanding an arms embargo were arrested for exercising their freedom of speech, according to World BEYOND War Canada.
This violent attack clearly meets the legal definition of anti-Palestinian racism as defined by the Arab Canadians Lawyer Association. Anti-Palestinian racism is a form of anti-Arab racism that dehumanizes Palestinians and vocal allies of Palestinian rights. This includes justifying violence against Palestinians as a means to exclude Palestinian perspectives and their allies from exercising their freedom to protest publicly.
The victim of the attack is also visibly Muslim and was targeted in the video by a white Swiss man in a suit because she is a hijabi woman. Yet, there is no mention of Islamophobia in the article. Mr. Fraser could have easily included this perspective from a voice at the scene or a third party that can speak on the rising cases of Islamophobia in Canada.
Too often, pro-Palestinian demonstrators and organizers are brushed aside, and their accounts are not taken seriously by journalists. It is important to highlight the disproportionality of violence against these protesters.
CJPME demands that reporting on pro-Palestinian protesters by the CBC does not dehumanize them in the process. Mr. Fraser’s report should make it clear that the attack by the counter-protester was unjustified. His use of force is a clear act against freedom of speech and a threat to all Canadians who want to exercise their inherent right to voice their opinion.
Mr. Fraser’s article needs a significant overhaul for a more balanced approach that includes perspectives from all sides involved in this issue and provides comprehensive context about World BEYOND War Canada demanding an arms embargo. As it stands, the piece falls short of the journalistic standards expected of the CBC.
Please pay serious attention to this matter. I cannot stress enough that you consider these points and that Mr. Fraser makes the necessary revisions to ensure a fair and balanced representation of this important issue.
Sincerely,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East