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Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Statement made by assaulted Jewish student
As reported earlier a Jewish student was assaulted by security hired by "Students Against Isreali Arpartaid." This is the statement that same student made in a Facebook note:
A few people have asked me this morning about what happened last night at UofT. I attended the Israel Apartheid Week event with a few friends and was prepared to ask a couple questions. The girl sitting next to me asked a question to one of the speakers about the problems with Hamas's Charter. The speaker answered the question by discussing occupation and Israel's "racist" policies, etc, instead of actually addressing the issue of Hamas's Charter and denial of Israel's right to exist. A couple people in the crowd, including myself, shouted out to the speaker "answer the question!" (It is generally fair game at these events where there are more activists present than observers to request that the speaker focus on the question asked). At this point, one of the (probably unlicensed) private security guards hired by SAIA approached me from behind. When I turned around in my seat to look at him, he grabbed and squeezed the back of my neck and growled at me from about 10 inches in front of my face "you shut the fuck up! shut the fuck up!" At this point I kept my cool moved back and I was like "get away from me bro, don't touch me!" One of the event organizers called for someone to ask the police standing outside in the hallway to come in to remove me for "causing a disruption" at which point I encouraged the police to come in to record the name and identity of the individual who assaulted me. I left the room promptly and reported the incident to the police. I will be filing a formal report later today with Metro Police.
I personally believe in freedom of speech and that students should be allowed to book lecture halls to present speakers who express radical, even extreme views. The presence, however, of (probably) unlicensed, private security gaurds wearing bullet proof vests and leather jackets who physicaly assault people who speak up against those radical, extreme views, must be confronted. SAIA must not be allowed to bring hired goons onto campus to intimidate people who oppose their views. I feel ashamed as a UofT alumnus.
I am also ashamed of the University of Toronto.
Posted by Hugh MacIntyre on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Is it just me or are things getting just to wierd on capusses
Posted by: ROBERT BRICKER | 2009-03-04 10:54:25 AM
Do not EVER donate any money to ANY University. When they call you for a donation, tell them why you are not donating.
If you own a company or are a shareholder in a company, encourage them NOT to hire ANY University to undertake research or consulting work on your behalf.
If you are paying for your child's education, do your due dilligence about the University's policy about freedom of speech and security relevant to your child. Merely asking them about this will cause the Registrar's Office to think about this.
And of course as taxpayers, we need to be making life for our Ministers of Advanced Education a living hell for tolerating these "hate crimes".
Epsi
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-03-04 11:19:12 AM
It's so much more civilised when the CJC undermines the freedom of speech of people like Mark Lemire. They let the state do the dirty work.
Guess he knows what Jared Taylor felt like in Halifax. Did MacIntyre feel the same shame for Canada? Doubtful.
Posted by: DJ | 2009-03-04 11:23:16 AM
What did you expect from Toronto? Tolerance? Kindness? Peace? HA! This comes from the same people trying to segregate their school system, in effect reviving Apartheid and Jim Crow. For shame. I no longer think Alberta should secede from Canada; rather, Ontario should be expelled for holding divergent views from the rest of civilized society. For shame.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-03-04 4:05:02 PM
U of T was like that in the 90s. All the extremist groups love bringing their "struggle" to St.George Street. Back then it was the ARA, the Spartacists, the Communist Student League. Even one of the heads of the NDP student group was arrested for breaking into the Legislature in 96 I believe. The only group that ever rocked U of T was the Young Reformer/Black Sabbath Appreciation Society of U of T. \M/
Posted by: Buddha Chan | 2009-03-04 4:17:55 PM
I've read the Sparticus, it is an amusing paper
Posted by: hughmacintyre | 2009-03-04 4:22:12 PM
For shame. I no longer think Alberta should secede from Canada; rather, Ontario should be expelled for holding divergent views from the rest of civilized society.
Posted by: Zebulon Punk | 2009-03-04 4:05:02 PM
Bwahahahahaha. The Punk's ideal form of government is Zimbabwe, which is steal from whitey. Anyway, who gives a shit if Alberta secedes. They are running a deficit, the Heritage fund is bleeding red ink. The place will be bust in a few years. It will soon resemble the failed state of Alabama.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-03-04 4:23:58 PM
But you know what? Hanging out with those Lefty wingnut groups clandestinely was a great way to meet chicks.
Posted by: Buddha Chan | 2009-03-04 7:12:35 PM
Buddha, maybe so, but would you want one becoming the mother of your kids? If not, my advice would be to RUN!
Posted by: TM | 2009-03-04 8:49:47 PM
@TM. I wasn't looking to procreate, only practice. :P
Posted by: Buddha Chan | 2009-03-04 9:30:37 PM
This is probably just the tip of the iceberg. If anyone out there still sees Canada as a bastion of free speech, a place with freedom of movement, free enterprise...you've either been terribly fooled or just haven't been paying attention.
Time for change and not the Obama kind.
Posted by: JC | 2009-03-05 6:37:22 AM
To be fair JC, it is one of the freest countries in the world.
Posted by: hughmacintyre | 2009-03-05 8:02:19 AM
To be fair JC, it is one of the freest countries in the world.
Posted by: hughmacintyre | 2009-03-05 8:02:19 AM
"To be fair"? I'm not interested in comparisons to worse situations. That's called rationalizing.
Pretty much the same thing as, "Its ok for the police to search homes without warrants, because I have nothing to hide" Same rationale.
So to suggest that losing what we had at a slower rate than other places still doesn't allow that its in any way "right". Far from it.
Best, JC
Posted by: JC | 2009-03-05 10:19:58 AM
So to suggest that losing what we had at a slower rate than other places still doesn't allow that its in any way "right". Far from it.
Should read:So to suggest that losing what we had at a slower rate than other places is ok, still doesn't allow that its in any way "right". Far from it.
I'll learn to speak in complete sentences, some day! :)
Posted by: JC | 2009-03-05 10:21:46 AM
The goon rent-a-cop should apply for a job with the RCMP or Toronto's "finest". Give him a beer and a taser and he's all set.
The incident was inexcusable. Sadly, it's not the first time and it won't be the last. Universities have become a complete joke. "We're protesting oppression, but if you dare ask us questions we don't like, you better shut the f*** up or we will beat you up." Sounds reasonable.
Posted by: Realist | 2009-03-05 11:15:33 AM
Now you know why Ernst Zundel is Toronto's favorite son.
Here's Toronto's anthem, the Horst Wessel Leid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fKddyOdZL4
Down with Toronto!
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-03-05 3:21:34 PM
@Realist: You are now an honourary member of the now defunct Young Reformers/Black Sabbath Appreciation Society of the University of Toronto.
Posted by: Buddha Chan | 2009-03-05 4:22:54 PM
I thought rent a cops were not allowed to use violence - I guess when only when acting as Islamist footsoldiers. Canadastan - here we come.
Posted by: Faramir | 2009-03-06 3:26:36 PM
It's Canuckistan, dude.
Posted by: Buddha Chan | 2009-03-06 4:02:13 PM
Victoria the home of senior citizens and the BC liberal party. take your pick.
Posted by: Geo | 2009-03-06 8:00:45 PM
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