"Fair and accurate reporting is an important journalistic standard in Canada that requires reporters to provide evidence supporting allegations. For this story, there is no evidence for Mr. Passifiume to report as fact that any of the encampments were a "no-go" zone for Jewish students and faculty."
November 12, 2024
Dear Mr. Passifiume and Ms. Batra,
I am writing to you to express my concerns regarding your article More than 100 groups helping to fuel explosion of anti-Semitism published on November 11, 2024.
Firstly, to suggest that ‘over 100 groups are helping to fuel the explosion of antisemitism’ based on a mapping exercise done by NGO Monitor is sloppy journalism. NGO Monitor is a pro-Israel group that receives significant funding from organizations and individuals with ties to Israel. Nothing in their report supports your headline that the rise in antisemitism is directly related to the work of advocacy and human rights groups in Canada. The 2023 Statistics Canada report indicates that incidences of hate crimes related to both Jewish and Muslim Canadians has increased. This suggests to me that Canadian groups need to be working collectively to combat antiracism of any kind.
I also take exception to your statement that the anti-Israel encampments were “no-go” zones for Jewish students and faculty, “as well as those whose beliefs didn’t align with the organizers.” Fair and accurate reporting is an important journalistic standard in Canada that requires reporters to provide evidence supporting allegations. For this story, there is no evidence for Mr. Passifiume to report as fact that any of the encampments were a "no-go" zone for Jewish students and faculty. However, the encampments did exclude Zionist students. As an example, the encampment that was established at UBC:O in Kelowna welcomed Jewish participants who supported the demands for divestment, boycott and an end to the genocide in Gaza. Everyone, regardless of religion or ethnicity, who participated in that encampment had to agree to support those demands.
I request that you update the article and indicate that NGO Monitor is a pro-Israel group.I would also urge you to issue a correction about the encampments being ‘no go zones’ for Jewish students and faculty’ to indicate that ‘the encampments were open to all students and faculty who supported the demands of the encampment.’
Sincerely,
Debbie Hubbard