Police investigate anti-Semitic incidents at McGill
Swastika drawings raise campus tensions
MONTREAL• The Montreal police department’ s hate crimes unit is investigating after swastika drawings found on campus at McGill University have fuelled fears of an increase in anti-Semitic sentiment among students.
Two separate swastika drawings were reported on campus over the course of the last week, discovered amid recent tensions within the university’s Jewish community stemming from student politician Igor Sadikov posting “Punch a Zionist today” on his personal Twitter account.
The university had already been embroiled in polarizing debates since its student society voted in favour of joining the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions ( BDS) movement against Israel last year. And though the decision was later overturned in an online vote, students interviewed for this article said the tension resulting from the debates never fully dissipated.
Sadikov’s tweet pushed religious debates back to the forefront of student council meetings in recent weeks, where some Jewish students reported feeling targeted as conversations about whether his tweet was an impeachable offence turned i nto arguments over the definition of Zionism itself.
On Monday, a third- year arts student was taking her seat for class in McGill’s Arts building when she noticed the desk in front of her had been vandalized — four drawings of what looks like the star of David and two swastikas with the words “Igor S” between them were scribbled in whiteout fluid.
In an interview this week, the student, who’s Jewish, said the incident corroborated her fears that Sadikov’s tweet — coming from a student representative — had given others a platform to express their own anti- Semitism on campus, turning a singular incident into an escalating problem.
“It made me feel threatened, unsafe and scared on campus,” the 21-year-old student, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said of finding the vandalism.
Montreal police were alerted about the incident and are investigating it as a possible hate crime, said Caroline Cournoyer, a commander with the force’s hate crime unit. A McGill spokesperson confirmed that it was university officials who reported it to police.
A separate incident also took place in the university’s McConnell Hall residence last weekend, where students found a swastika drawn on a whiteboard near the main entrance.
In a statement, Christopher Buddle, McGill’s dean of students, confirmed the university was aware of both recent anti- Semitic i ncidents, that campus security investigated them and said officials acted swiftly and proactively in both cases.
“We strongly condemn such messages,” Buddle wrote. “I want to reiterate that the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community is a priority.”
Molly Harris, a third- year arts student who has spoken out about feeling targeted as a Jew and a Zionist at a recent legislative council meeting, said she’s felt increasingly unwelcome in recent weeks.
Sadikov’s tweet and representative bodies deciding not to impeach him, Harris said, has “normalized antiSemitism poorly disguised as anti-Zionism on campus.”
Sadikov has since publicly apologized for his tweet on two occasions, referencing his own Jewish heritage and calling the comment a “misguided joke.” He resigned from the Students’ Society of McGill University’s ( SSMU) board of directors Thursday night, citing the McGill administration’s “irresponsible interference” with the society’s governance processes.
National Jewish groups and associations welcomed his resignation on Friday. B’nai Brith Canada called it “an important victory for Jewish and pro- Israel students and for tolerance in general at McGill.”
An impeachment vote will be held on March 9 concerning Sadikov’s remaining role as a member of the SSMU’s legislative council.