In Winnipeg, pro-Palestinian groups are once again resorting to cancel culture, this time launching a Change.org campaign titled “Stop War Criminals from Speaking in Winnipeg, MB, Canada!” The petition, which has garnered 180 signatures, falsely claims that SSI’s “Triggered: From Combat To Campus” tour features “two IOF war criminals” who allegedly participated in a so-called Palestinian genocide—accusations that are not only baseless but steeped in antisemitism.
The petition alleges that the event, scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, is intended to honor soldiers implicated in human rights abuses, contending that their mere presence is “deeply insensitive” and runs counter to Canada’s commitment to justice and human rights. It further cites legal provisions, including Canada’s role as a signatory to the Rome Statute and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, in an attempt to legitimize its hateful claims.
In a further assault on free expression, the tour was abruptly canceled at the University of Guelph after relentless pressure from extremist pro-Palestinian factions. Moreover, several other campuses hosting the tour have been plagued by protests and threats aimed at intimidating organizers and attendees. These cancel culture tactics, targeting institutions that dare to present a pro-Israel perspective, underscore a dangerous trend of silencing dissent through hate and intimidation.
Such inflammatory rhetoric is nothing more than a desperate effort by extremist elements to delegitimize the pro-Israel message of the tour. The assertions that these soldiers have “killed hundreds of thousands” of Palestinians are not only factually unfounded, but they also represent a gross distortion of reality—designed solely to stoke hatred and fear among Canada’s largest Jewish community.
The “Triggered” tour, organized by Students Supporting Israel, aims to provide a platform for honest discussion about the realities of combat and the challenges faced by Israel, without resorting to the oversimplified and incendiary narratives propagated by its detractors. Rather than being a celebration of violence, the tour is an essential counterbalance to attempts to silence voices that challenge the one-sided portrayal of the conflict.
For those who would seek to cancel this vital conversation, it is imperative to recognize that such efforts do nothing to advance justice or peace. Instead, they only serve to deepen divisions and embolden hate-fueled ideologies. In a society that values free speech and open debate, canceling events based on lies and antisemitism is both cowardly and dangerous.
As Winnipeg’s pro-Israel community stands united against these attacks, leaders and organizers call on city officials and university administrators to reject the pressure of extremist cancel culture. The time has come to uphold intellectual diversity, protect free expression, and ensure that hate has no place on our campuses or in our public discourse.
hello there! I am new to understanding this and was hoping you could help me understand something. How is the statement “took part in the Palestinian genocide” steeped in anti-semitism? I don’t understand how it’s anti-Semitic to criticize policy decisions of a state/government. Once again, I’m new to the intricacies of this conflict but it seems like the Palestinian side has suffered so much loss of life since Oct 7th, so many women and children especially.. surely they can’t all be Hamas? How are all the babies in the hospitals Hamas? I guess what I’m saying is, I don’t want to come across as anti-Semitic by asking the wrong questions. But this feels like a fair question, isn’t the state of Israel a separate entity from Judaism itself? As in, can’t you question a states actions (that violate the Geneva convention) without being antisemitic? It just feels really hypocritical and quite frankly cruel because for example during the recent ceasefire I saw on the news that the IDF was bombing civilian tents with children inside! Like I saw it with my own eyes! Surely that’s not anti-Semitic to not want to see innocent children die? Please help me understand.
Hamas contributes to the increased death toll within Gaza in several ways:
Use of Human Shields – Hamas has been documented using civilians, including women and children, as human shields by operating within densely populated areas, launching attacks from residential neighborhoods, and storing weapons in schools, hospitals, and mosques. This increases civilian casualties when those areas are targeted in military strikes.
Rocket Attacks and Retaliation – Hamas frequently launches rockets at Israel, prompting military responses. These responses lead to civilian casualties, especially when Hamas launches attacks from within populated areas.
Diverting Humanitarian Aid – Hamas has been accused of diverting humanitarian aid, including building materials meant for civilian infrastructure, to construct tunnels and military facilities, instead of using them to protect civilians.
Crackdown on Civilians – Hamas suppresses dissent in Gaza, arresting and even executing those who criticize its rule or oppose its military strategies. This contributes to deaths within Gaza unrelated to external military action.
Polonging Conflicts – By refusing ceasefires or breaking truces, Hamas extends conflicts, leading to more destruction and civilian casualties.
Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, Israel, and several other countries. Its actions have significantly contributed to the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
Hello! I was wondering how pretending a nazi regime represents Jewish people when it doesn’t helps with antisemitism? Claiming it is Jewish people slaughtering innocent children, mothers, and fathers is incorrect. It is not Jewish people who are raping hostages, it is Israeli racists. Let’s not support the nazi regime.