Battling anti-Semitism a constant effort: B’nai Brith Canada

Yuni Kim
Assistant News Editor

When Naomi Samuel was browsing through the stacks at Scott Library, anti-Semitic graffiti was the last thing she expected to see.
The fourth-year communication studies student was looking for books to use for a research paper for her Canadian Jewish history class, when she came across a book scrawled with swastika symbols and the expletive “Fuck Jews!” “I was very saddened,” said Samuel, who has alerted Jewish student groups on campus as well as the Centre for Human Rights about the incident.
“I was disgusted to see this continue on my campus,” she said, referring to anti-Semitism. “York University must take a stronger stance against this type of behaviour,” she said. “I don’t want this to ever happen again […] it’s complete hatred, and it shouldn’t be happening on our campus.” Alex Bilyk, director of media relations at York, said Scott Library was made aware of the incident, and will do their best to restore the book in question before allowing it back on the shelves.
Anita Bromberg, legal counsel of the Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith, said York is no stranger to discrimination and displays of anti- Semitism.
“There was a substantial number of these [incidents] last year,” said Bromberg, pointing out several incidents at York where anti-Semitic graffiti was found scratched onto desks and bathroom walls.
“York, among the campuses that we track across Canada, is a regular visitor to our audit figures,” she said.
“I fear that after this particular event that the course is going to veer off into no-man’s land,” added Bromberg, noting her disappointment with the lack of action on part of the university. Yusuf Mohamed, vice-president
equity of the York Federation of Students (YFS), expressed strong disappointment regarding the incident.
“I’m disgusted. This is an institution of higher learning,” said Mohamed. “This incident comes under the realm of racism and discrimi- nation […] people come from dif- ferent walks of life, and we should all become better allies.”