Toronto (March 30, 2020) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is asking police to investigate an act of vandalism at a downtown Toronto Aroma cafe as a hate crime.

The Aroma location at 540 College Street was defaced with graffiti that read “Zionists not welcome.”

Police have reported to FSWC that they are actively investigating the incident and are in process of conducting a canvass of the neighbourhood in search of surveillance video that may have captured the perpetrators.

“It is absolutely disgusting that in this day and age we are still seeing such vile and antisemitic attacks on Jewish-owned businesses,” said Avi Benlolo, president and CEO of FSWC. “This is reminiscent of the attacks endured by Jewish businesses in Europe leading up to the Holocaust and serves as a warning sign for all of us that we must be vigilant and stand united to resist antisemitism and hatred in all its forms.”

Aroma cafes have continued to be targets of the antisemitic BDS movement since the Israeli chain was first established in Canada in 2007.

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