Press Release — Network of Engaged Canadian Academics

PRESS RELEASE: Stop Jewish tokenism. Encampments are not peaceful.

Protest, debate, and criticism of policies are essential to university life. But the student encampments at Canadian university and college campuses are calling for “Zionists off Campus”, for Jews to "go back to Europe and for an "intifada revolution", while also asking fellow students to identify faculty who use a “Zionist narrative” to be targeted. As Jewish faculty members and allies: this is NOT peaceful. Blacklisting faculty members for their political views and ending academic partnerships is the opposite of academic freedom and it will stifle debate and diversity, while sending a chilling message to Jewish students and faculty. Our national, provincial, and University leaders must respond strenuously when any minoritized group is being targeted by an organized and systematic attack, as is occurring against Jews and their identity at these encampments across Canada.

As Jewish and allied Canadian academics from the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics (NECA), which is on 36 Canadian campuses including all of those with encampments, we want to ensure credible voices that can speak to what is happening are being represented in the media. Marginal groups like the Jewish Faculty Network and Independent Jewish Voices are entitled to their opinions and their freedom of expression but they are outliers and in no way represent the majority view of Jewish faculty members. Please consider this in your reporting.