Winnipeg – Winnipeg’s Jewish community was alarmed and deeply concerned when Eric Rae, an employee at the Harvey Smith branch of the Winnipeg Public Library, appeared in an official library social media video recommending The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, while wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, a symbol widely recognized as political and divisive in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
It was this video, widely shared on official library channels, that first ignited the controversy, not Rae’s extensive anti-Israel social media presence, which includes hateful rhetoric, false claims, and graphic antisemitic imagery. The video’s public nature and official endorsement by the library made the display of the keffiyeh especially provocative and hurtful to Winnipeg’s Jewish community.
A review of Rae’s public Facebook account reveals a disturbing pattern of anti-Israel biases, misinformation, and antisemitic images, including false maps portraying Jews as occupiers of their ancestral homeland, inflammatory slogans, and grotesque depictions vilifying Israel and Jewish symbols.
Lack of a Clear Policy on Political Symbols at Winnipeg Public Library
The Winnipeg Public Library Board, which oversees the city’s library system, includes 12 citizen members appointed by City Council, two City Councillors, Councillor Dobson and Councillor Wyatt, and senior library administration. The Board reports to the Standing Policy Committee on Protection and Community Services, chaired by Councillor Vivian Santos.
Despite the current climate of rising antisemitism and political tensions, the Winnipeg Public Library has no publicly detailed policy explicitly addressing employees wearing political symbols like the Palestinian keffiyeh. The existing Dress and Conduct Expectations emphasize respect and professionalism but do not specifically prohibit political attire.
This stands in stark contrast to policies at institutions such as the Vancouver Public Library, which prohibits staff from wearing political symbols unless they are officially endorsed by the board. The new ban was introduced following a staff revolt sparked by a wave of librarians wearing keffiyehs and “watermelon” pins, the latter being a coded symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
While the VPL permits religious symbols, including the Star of David, and certain advocacy symbols like orange shirts for residential school survivors and Pride flags, it explicitly bans politically polarizing items such as pro-Palestinian watermelon pins and keffiyehs.
A Pattern of Political Blind Spots and Antisemitism
This incident involving a Winnipeg Public Library employee wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and promoting anti-Israel rhetoric is not isolated but part of a troubling pattern of political blind spots and antisemitism within Winnipeg’s civic sphere. It follows closely on the heels of the highly controversial Mayor’s BIZ Award given to Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM), whose social media activity has been widely condemned for promoting antisemitic content and calls for violent uprisings against Jews.
Zeid’s award, nominated by the West Broadway BIZ, sparked outrage after it was revealed that he shared videos labeling Israel a “terrorist foreign entity,” described Zionists as “demonic,” and called for a “global violent intifada.” The video included incitements to sabotage city halls and corporations, urging “non-peaceful disruptors” to act, and advocating for “intifada until liberation, or we scorch the earth.”
These inflammatory statements have been denounced by Jewish advocacy groups, including B’nai Brith Canada, and by City Councillors, including Sherri Rollins, who demanded that Mayor Scott Gillingham rescind the award. Despite these calls, Mayor Gillingham resisted revoking the honor, citing that it was awarded to a business rather than an individual, even as he condemned antisemitism in principle.
The Zeid controversy exposed a dangerous tolerance, if not tacit enabling, of antisemitic rhetoric within Winnipeg’s political and civic leadership. The situation was further complicated by Mayor Gillingham’s reluctance to take decisive action, which many perceive as a failure to protect Winnipeg’s Jewish residents from targeted hostility.
This backdrop intensifies the concerns raised by the recent library incident. Once again, Mayor Gillingham and city leadership find themselves entangled in controversies that deeply affect the Jewish community’s sense of safety and inclusion. The lack of clear policies and accountability mechanisms in public institutions like the Winnipeg Public Library only exacerbates these tensions.
Moreover, the broader political environment in Manitoba has seen increasing challenges for Jewish residents, including contentious interactions involving Premier Wab Kinew, whose government has been criticized for its perceived leniency toward pro-Palestinian activists accused of promoting antisemitic tropes.
Together, these incidents highlight a pattern of political blind spots, where antisemitic rhetoric is either overlooked or insufficiently challenged by civic leaders, placing Winnipeg’s Jewish community in a precarious position.
Urgent Questions for Library Leadership and City Officials
- How did an employee with a public social media record full of anti-Israel lies and antisemitic images become the public face of Winnipeg Public Library services?
- Who authorized and uploaded the video featuring Eric Rae wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh on official library social media?
- Why has the Winnipeg Public Library not responded adequately to the many concerned and angry comments from community members?
- Why hasn’t the video been removed and a formal apology issued to Winnipeg’s Jewish community?
- When will the Winnipeg Public Library implement clear policies to prevent politically divisive symbols and hateful rhetoric from being publicly associated with its services?
Calls for Accountability and Policy Reform
Jewish and pro-Israel advocates in Winnipeg demand immediate action. Public institutions must not provide platforms for political extremism or hate speech, especially in a time of rising antisemitism. Clear, enforceable policies are essential to maintain a respectful, neutral environment for all library patrons and staff.
“The video of an employee wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh on official library media is deeply hurtful and unacceptable. Winnipeg Public Library must take responsibility and act swiftly to restore trust and ensure such incidents do not happen again.”
Winnipeg now faces a critical test: Can a civic institution that claims neutrality permit staff members to openly align with one side of a deeply divisive international conflict? For many Jewish residents, the keffiyeh has become a symbol inseparable from Hamas-led terrorism targeting Israeli civilians, conveying a message of hostility rather than inclusivity.
Winnipeg’s Jewish community awaits a firm response from the Public Library Board, the Standing Policy Committee on Protection and Community Services, and Mayor Gillingham’s office to address these serious concerns and protect the city’s Jewish residents. Without decisive action, trust in Winnipeg’s public library is at risk of being permanently undermined.
This article is based on verified information from official Winnipeg Public Library social media, public social media posts, and community statements as of June 2025.