TORONTO (October 4, 2017) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) wasdismayed to discover that the Islamic Heritage Month guidebook released by theToronto District School Board (TDSB) includes reference to the Nation of Islam,whose officials have a history of antisemitic rhetoric, and suggests includingMalcolm X – who was accused of making antisemitic remarks – in morningannouncements.

In response to this finding, FSWC sent a letter toTDSB’s Director of Education outlining its concerns.

“Nation of Islam officials have a documented history ofantisemitic rhetoric including Holocaust denial, exaggerating therole of Jews in the slave trade and hateful conspiracy theories about Jewishcontrol of the economy,” the letter states, adding that TDSB’s suggestion to includeMalcolm X – who was a key leader in the Nation of Islam – in the morningannouncements should also be reconsidered. “While in a leadershiprole, Malcolm X was accused of making antisemitic remarks claiming that Jewscontrolled the media and befriended the Black community for their own ulteriormotives. Such remarks have in fact been posted on white nationalist websites.”

“Regardless of their religious background, one who has beenassociated with antisemitic comments should not be held up as a role model toyour students.”

In the letter, FSWC calls on TDSB “topull the Guidebook pending a full review of its contents to insure thatdiversity, inclusivity and equity are appropriately consideredand reflected.”

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Media Contacts: 

Atara Cadesky  
Communications Associate  
416.864.9735 x 30  
acadesky@fswc.ca 

Avital Borisovsky  
Communications Associate    
416.864.9735 x 30 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

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