Recent acts of systematic racism and antisemitism across the border and in Canadian communities have the Windsor Jewish Community calling out all forms of hatred and bigotry.
The Jewish community said it is working with the Windsor Police Service in an effort to educate all citizens about the need to promote racial equality. The group added that it hopes the current dialogue that is taking place will win out over increasing incidents of racism and antisemitism.
Most notably, numerous protests have been held in Canada and the U.S. in the wake of the police-involved death of George Floyd, an African American man, in Minnesota. Floyd, 46, died after being held down by a Minneapolis police officer who was seen on video pressing his knee onto a prone, handcuffed Floyd. During the video, Floyd was heard crying out that he could not breathe.
"We are all aware of incidents against our African American friends and neighbours. We are not immune to this in Canada," the group said in a news release.
On the northern side of the border, the Windsor Jewish Community pointed out that a small synagogue in Montreal was broken into last week and heavily vandalized. And even closer to home, a swastika was discovered cut into a lawn in Amherstburg over the weekend.
"We denounce these hateful acts and hope that our collective efforts lead to interracial harmony and peace for all," the Windsor Jewish Community said, adding that antisemitic incidents rose by 27 per cent across Canada in 2019.
The Jewish community group said any claim that someone does not know that a swastika is a racist symbol used by the Nazis in the Holocaust is outrageous.
"In the Holocaust, six million Jews were murdered. There are still survivors amongst us who we honour each and every day. In total, 11 million people were killed in the Holocaust including those from other minorities and people who were gay," the group said. "The symbol which led to these deaths was a swastika."