"Malcolm X pointed out that law enforcement often serves to uphold the status quo and protect systems of power, rather than ensuring true safety and justice for individuals, especially those from marginalized communities. This reflection on institutional racism remains sadly relevant today, and your article courageously provided Bahnan with the platform to address the systemic issues surrounding police and to challenge the dangerous naivety in assuming that the police are always there to serve and protect, particularly marginalized communities."
January 15, 2025
To:
Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman, Editor in Chief, The Concordian
Emily Pasquarelli, Video Editor, The Concordian
Dear Marieke, Emily and the rest of the Concordian newsroom,
On behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, I would like to commend you for your courageous and balanced reporting of the incident involving Christopher Bahnan, who was sexually and racially assaulted for wearing a kufiyyeh at Hall Building at Concordia University. I also want to thank Ms. Pasquarelli for her article A Gazan’s dream beyond borders.
Ms. Glorieux-Stryckman’s articles provided Bahnan the much-needed space to explain how this assault is a clear example of anti-Palestinian racism—something rarely acknowledged, especially in a media landscape that tends to bury Palestinian voices at the very end of articles.
I particularly appreciate your mention of Bahnan’s comment: “The security officers are always there to go and tell people, ‘Hey, you can’t smoke here,’ or ‘Hey, you can’t do this,’” said Bahnan. “But they’re nowhere to be found when there’s actually a violent crime being committed.” These words resonate deeply with the philosophy of Malcolm X, who, in his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech on April 12, 1964, sharply criticized the police. Malcolm X pointed out that law enforcement often serves to uphold the status quo and protect systems of power, rather than ensuring true safety and justice for individuals, especially those from marginalized communities. This reflection on institutional racism remains sadly relevant today, and your article courageously provided Bahnan with the platform to address the systemic issues surrounding police and to challenge the dangerous naivety in assuming that the police are always there to serve and protect, particularly marginalized communities.
The Media Accountability team at CJPME also commends Ms. Pasquarelli for her exceptional reporting on Joudi Alafranji’s story. Her work powerfully humanizes the harrowing experiences of students enduring the brutal realities of genocide, offering a platform for voices too often silenced.
Both stories you’ve covered exemplify the highest standards of journalistic ethics, as outlined by the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). Tragically, reporting on Palestine often falls victim to a glaring double standard, with Palestinian narratives routinely marginalized. That’s why CJPME takes immense pride in seeing emerging journalists like you rise to the challenge, amplifying these stories while upholding professional journalistic principles.
Your coverage sets a crucial benchmark, and your team should be incredibly proud of this work. We urge The Concordian to continue leading the way in raising the bar on reporting this sensitive and critical issue. We cannot stress this point especially in the face of attempts by Canadian academic institutions to suppress independent expression or stifle solidarity with Palestine.
I think you are already aware, but I want to emphasize that J-source runs the Canada Press Freedom Project, and they’ve been maintaining an ongoing database of press freedom violations, and tools and resources for media workers. Recently they’ve been asking journalists who cover the Palestine beat and that receive threats online by Honest Reporting Canada (HRC) to reach out for assistance. I sincerely hope that this doesn’t happen to The Concordian, but just in case, I suggest you bookmark this link as a precautionary measure.
Please, keep on talking, writing and sharing about Palestine. As Kwame Ture said, “if your people are oppressed and you are not making a contribution to end the sufferings of your people, by your very act of in-action, you are against your people. ”
May we see a liberated Palestine, in our lifetime.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance or further collaboration.
Warm regards,
Lynn Naji
With solidarity from Anthony Issa and Jason Toney
Media Accountability Project team