Toronto (November 29, 2019) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is calling on York University to intervene and protect the freedoms of speech and assembly of the Jewish community on campus.

At its Annual General Meeting week, the York Federation of Students passed a motion stating, “If representatives of the Israeli state are invited to gather support for war and occupation... the York Federation of Students must organize mass mobilizations of students, workers,marginalized communities...using [its] multi-million dollar apparatus to lead the organizing effort.”

“We demand an external review of the systematic antisemitism at York University that looks at all levels of the institution including administration, faculty and the York Federation of Students. There needs to be a clear plan in place to guarantee the safety and security of Jewish students and to ensure protection of their rights to freedom of speech,” said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. “The administration also must immediately remove the violent and antisemitic mural that is currently hanging in the York Student Centre as well as delist the hateful anti-Israel student group SAIA which organized last week’s violent protest against an event organized by Jewish students.”

FSWC has reached out to York University’s President Rhonda Lenton and is demanding that the administration take control of the university directly and immediately address the hatred towards Jews that has become overwhelming and systemic on campus.