Canadian Student Group Finds Courage to Oppose Jews
Source: The Canadian Press | September 30, 2001
B’nai Brith Says Montreal Student Group is
Calling for ‘Violent Revolution’
MONTREAL (CP) – A Jewish advocacy group has expressed concern about what it terms a “call for violent revolution” by the Concordia Students Union.
Robert Libman, regional director for B’nai Brith Canada, warned Sunday that a booklet published by the student group could spark violence on campuses across North America. “There’s a call for arms and there are some very troubling articles in there,” Libman said in an interview.
“We’re concerned about this potentially spreading to other universities. Concordia is becoming almost a magnet for some of these activities.”
Libman would not reveal the specific contents of the booklet. But he said the handout could be used as a “blueprint” by activists at other universities. B’nai Brith was to hold a news conference Monday to provide more details.
Student union officials were not immediately available for comment.
A dispute has been raging on campus for months over the student union’s pro-Palestinian stance.
Montreal police are investigating a threat received by the union on Sept. 8 from a group calling itself the Committee for the Extermination of Palestine.
An unidentified caller warned that every member of the student union would be targeted.
Earlier in the summer, university officials banned two members of the student union from campus for spray-painting graffiti critical of Israel on university property.
The tensions prompted both sides in the dispute to organize protests, one of which turned ugly Saturday night.
About 250 pro-Palestinian demonstrators made their way to the American consulate, joining a second group of anti-globalization protesters.
Violence ensued after the pro-Palestinian group left the area on police orders.
Some of the anti-globalization marchers hurled rocks and confronted a television cameraman before police moved in and arrested 82 people.
Police said none of the pro-Palestinian marchers were involved in the fracas.
No one was injured but police confiscated knives, rocks, hockey pucks and a hammer.
Charges of mischief and vandalism will be laid against dozens of protesters.
