The Jewish community in Winnipeg is reeling after a series of antisemitic graffiti incidents in the Charleswood area, including the most recent defacement of the Westdale Community Centre during Hanukkah. The graffiti, which prominently featured swastikas and the initials “MKY,” has drawn condemnation from local leaders and organizations.
Brent McNeil, president of the Westdale Community Centre, described the incident to CBC as deeply troubling. “It is disappointing at the very least.… The community centre in itself is supposed to be a safe space for everybody in the community, regardless of who they are,” McNeil said.
This is not the first time Charleswood has been targeted by similar acts of vandalism. On December 7, swastikas and “MKY” tags were discovered on several homes, garages, and a camper in the area. A concerned community member reported the incidents to Shomrim Manitoba, a Jewish volunteer security group, which documented the graffiti and alerted local authorities and community leadership.
Gustavo Zentner, vice-president of CIJA in Manitoba, added, “When we see a minority group being singled out or targeted, this is the call to action to all Winnipeggers, to all Manitobans, to all Canadians. These actions are serious hate crimes. There is no place for hate in Manitoba.”
The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) have both denounced the acts as “pure hatred” and “serious hate crimes.” Jeff Lieberman, president of the Jewish Federation, emphasized the broader implications of such incidents, saying, “This is horrible, and not only is it aggravating and frustrating, but it is something the Jewish community is facing increasingly these days. It’s just pure hatred against the Jewish people.”
In response to the incidents, Manitoba PC leadership candidate and current MLA Obby Khan took to Facebook to express his condemnation:
“This must stop! These senseless acts of antisemitism are hateful and have no place in Canada. As a community leader, father, politician, and a Muslim, I stand with the Jewish community. You will not succeed in dividing us! I am deeply concerned about the rise of antisemitism in recent years. Hatred toward the Jewish community—or any community—has no place in Manitoba or anywhere else. As a leader, I will push for stronger laws to ensure those who commit these acts of hate face swift and firm consequences.”
Mayor Scott Gillingham also took to social media, condemning the act as blatant antisemitism. He urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the Winnipeg Police Service.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew addressed the incidents on Instagram, writing:
“The anti-semitic graffiti on a west Winnipeg community centre is an act of hatred, and I join Manitoba’s Jewish community in condemning it.
We must honour the Survivors of the Holocaust and live up to our global commitment of ‘Never Again’ by calling out those voices of hatred who use the images of that dark era in human history, such as in this incident. This is why we are making Holocaust education mandatory in Manitoba.
All Manitobans stand against anti-semitism and all forms of hate.”
The “MKY” tags found at the scene connect the incidents to a violent extremist group known as Manyaki: Kult Ubiystva (MKY), or the Maniacs Murder Cult. The group originated in Ukraine and Russia and has gained notoriety for its neo-Nazi and accelerationist ideology, combining elements of national socialism and Satanism to promote a culture of hatred and violence.
MKY glorifies serial killers and mass murderers, such as the 2019 Christchurch attacker and the Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs. The group uses graffiti, social media, and other propaganda to recruit and incite violence, targeting minorities, homeless individuals, and other vulnerable populations.
Local authorities and organizations have pledged to address the rise in antisemitic incidents. Winnipeg police are investigating the graffiti, while CIJA has engaged with law enforcement to provide background information and support. Community leaders are urging residents to stand united against hatred and intolerance.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by extremist ideologies and the importance of vigilance, education, and community solidarity in combating hate crimes.
This is so disturbing. This threat must be better known as this important report makes clear.