"The whole letter essentially conflates pro-Palestinian advocacy with terrorism from beginning to end. This is a form of anti-Palestinian racism designed to conflate advocacy for Palestinian human rights by defaming protesters as terrorist threats and sympathizers. This kind of rhetoric is harmful, racist and should never have been published in its current form. Orillia Matters should be held accountable for amplifying it."
Poor Coverage – Media outlet to be critiqued
A CJPME Media Researcher has launched a media alert for the following article. Please submit a quick response to the media, even if it’s just a sentence or two:
Title of Piece: Randy Baker: Israel has the right to defend civilian population
Media Outlet: Orillia Matters
Click here to access the piece on-line.
Comments of the CJPME Media Researcher:
(Note: Please do not copy and paste the material below as the content to your message to the media - put all comments in your own words):
A Letter to the Editor by Randy Baker published by Orillia Matters is rife with factual inaccuracies and racist narratives towards Palestinians. The whole letter essentially conflates pro-Palestinian advocacy with terrorism from beginning to end. This is a form of anti-Palestinian racism designed to conflate advocacy for Palestinian human rights by defaming protesters as terrorist threats and sympathizers. This kind of rhetoric is harmful, racist and should never have been published in its current form. Orillia Matters should be held accountable for amplifying it.
- Phrases in the letter such as “I find it hard to tell the difference between a pro-Palestine supporter and a pro-Hamas supporter, “or “And just like 9/11, there are videos of Palestinians in Gaza celebrating and passing out sweets as their sons texted their mothers, boasting that they killed Jews, including women and children,” irresponsibly frames solidarity with Palestinian rights as synonymous with extremism.
- The author attempts to erase Palestinian history by calling for the West Bank to be renamed "Judea and Samaria." This is a deeply racist tactic meant to deny the Palestinian people’s identity, history, and rightful claim to the land. By insisting on this terminology, the author deliberately excludes Palestinians as an Indigenous people who have long-standing ties and rights to both occupied and historic Palestine.
- The author of the letter also falsely claims that 1,200 civilians were killed by Hamas during the October 7 operation, citing the U.S. Department of Defense even though the DoD does not track foreign casualties. According to Haaretz, 851 civilians and 368 soldiers were killed, and the letter inflates civilian casualties while ignoring over 41,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7. This omission severely distorts the reality on the ground, presenting a one-sided, misleading narrative that minimizes Palestinian suffering.
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The CJPME Media Centre Team
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