"It was disappointing once again to see a double-standard in a media article. We are in total agreement that we need to push back against any form of racism and hatred, regardless of the group that is targeted. However, the role of the media is to provide informed and unbiased reporting when such incidents occur."
Dear Ms. Pereira, Ms. MacIntyre and Mr. Vincent,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding the Toronto Star article, “Toronto Police investigating reports of antisemitic signs at demonstration near Bathurst and Shepherd last weekend” that was published on March 17, 2026.
It was disappointing once again to see a double-standard in a media article. We are in total agreement that we need to push back against any form of racism and hatred, regardless of the group that is targeted. However, the role of the media is to provide informed and unbiased reporting when such incidents occur.
What was omitted from the article was any mention of the effigy of the lynching of what appears to be Iran’s former Supreme Leader that was carried by a counter-protester across the street from the Al Quds rally. This too is an example of evoking hatred but was not covered in your article or any other media article.
Is it only antisemitic racism that is relevant to the media? It would appear so. We only need to look at the coverage of other protests and events such as when an effigy of Prime Minister Netanyahu was hung from the Roddick Gates at McGill University in May 2024. The national media turned this into a major story.
We would ask that you revise this article to include reference to the counter-protest and how hatred and racism was present on “both sides of the street. At the very least, we would ask that future articles be cognizant of racism and hatred wherever it occurs and from whomever is promoting it.
Sincerely,
Debbie Hubbard
Kelowna, British Columbia