In 1977, the small town of Skokie, Illinois, became infamous when the National Socialist Party of America — neo-Nazis — planned a march through a predominantly Jewish community, many of whom were Holocaust survivors. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defended their right to free speech, overturning an injunction that would have stopped the march. For Jewish communities, it was a wake-up call — a stark reminder that even the most hateful ideologies could exploit democratic freedoms.
A protest with a dangerous message
Last week, Students Supporting Israel, a university group, organized an event featuring Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers who had fought against Hamas after the October 7th attacks. They were set to share their experiences of courage and sacrifice.
Before the location of the event was even publicly announced, anti-Israel activists mobilized. The Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) called for an “emergency rally” at the Rady Centre, a Jewish community hub, labeling the IDF soldiers as “war criminals” committing “genocide.” Protesters were instructed to wear masks and generic clothing to avoid identification. Warnings were issued to attendees, stating, “Do NOT post photos/vids that reveal anyone’s face.”
A related online petition demanded the event be canceled, with one supporter writing:
“Zionism is a disease, and Zionists are like infected cells… we need to do all we can to squash this rancid plague from the earth.”
A mob adopting this rhetoric, deliberately masking their identities, and targeting a Jewish community centre is more than a protest. It is an intimidation tactic. The way they discovered the event location remains an open question.
“This was our Skokie moment”
Around 150 pro-Israel supporters stood against a crowd of approximately 50 protesters. Among them was Professor Haskell Greenfield, who described the event as a defining moment for the Jewish community.
“If we don’t function together to protect ourselves, this is our future,” Greenfield said. He noted the presence of community leaders and young adults rallying alongside grassroots activists.
“This is a community centre where children, seniors, and people of all backgrounds gather. If we picketed outside a mosque or a Muslim community centre, there would be an outcry. We don’t do that, yet they chose to intimidate our community — our children, our seniors. This isn’t just about Israel. It’s about being Jewish.”
Video footage confirmed the hostility. One protester screamed, “Jews should stop killing children!” Another held a sign declaring, “Israel doesn’t have a right to exist.”
Greenfield made the connection clear: “They want Israel gone, and they want Jews here gone.”
Misinformation and moral hypocrisy
The justification for the protest — the presence of IDF soldiers — was, according to Greenfield, completely baseless.
“These soldiers aren’t terrorists or criminals. They’re members of one of the most moral armies in the world, where they risk their own lives to minimize civilian casualties,” he said. “For saying that, we’re all labeled criminals.”
He also dismantled another common accusation against Israel.
“They claim we are ‘colonizers,’ which is completely false. The Muslims colonized the land in the 7th century, imposing their rule. Israelis are decolonizing the land.”
Intimidation at a Jewish school
The protest was not confined to the Rady Centre. Across from Gray Academy, a Jewish school, demonstrators displayed vulgar signs and encouraged children to stomp on the Israeli flag.
Jeff Lieberman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, condemned the scene.
“We have to ask whether Canadians would tolerate this level of harassment against any other minority group. Protesters deliberately dressed in an intimidating manner. Their shouting was heard throughout the neighborhood while parents picked up their children from school and daycare. It frightened families and local residents who were caught off guard.”
Lieberman emphasized the protest was not an isolated incident. “Our Jewish community centre hosts a daycare, a school, a fitness centre, and serves people of all backgrounds, including seniors and Holocaust survivors. Hate should not be allowed to gather at our doors.”
The Federation has lobbied the government for protective “bubble laws” to prevent hateful demonstrations near religious and cultural institutions — churches, mosques, synagogues, and other community spaces.
Political and law enforcement silence
Following the incident, Winnipeg’s mayor, Scott Gillingham, and city council members remained silent.
“I have no idea why they allow this to happen,” Greenfield said. “The police are supposed to enforce the law. Are there no laws against targeting Jews with hate speech?”
Greenfield argued that unless city officials instruct police to act, they will continue to stand by.
Doug Grant, a retired 27-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police Service, echoed these concerns in a letter to the Winnipeg Sun.
“Officers were present, but where was the leadership? If the directive was simply to stand by and allow swearing, racial slurs, and masked demonstrators near a school, then we’ve accepted this behavior as normal,” Grant wrote.
“There are laws against mischief, intimidation, and causing a disturbance — why weren’t they enforced?”
A police force unwilling to engage
The Winnipeg Police Service refused to provide basic information about the protest. When asked how many protesters and counter-protesters were present, whether any confrontations occurred, and how much manpower was required, the only response was:
“We confirm we were aware of the event and monitored it as needed. No reports came from the event.”
This mirrors past responses when the Winnipeg Sun inquired about pro-Palestinian protests. Each time, police issued vague, generic statements.
Winnipeg’s Skokie moment
Just as the Skokie Affair exposed a harsh reality about the misuse of free speech, the events in Winnipeg highlight a dangerous tolerance for rising antisemitism.
For Mayor Gillingham and city council, this is their Skokie moment. Will they act to protect the Jewish community, or will they turn a blind eye?
Will law enforcement enforce hate speech laws, or will they continue to “monitor” without intervention?
What happened outside the Rady Centre was not just a protest. It was targeted harassment. It was intimidation.
This demands a response.
Originally published by the Winnipeg Sun.