Canada has shown insufficient resolve in the face of surging antisemitism. That must change, and banning Bob Vylan would send an important message that such a change is underway.
With antisemitism surging since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terror attack against Israel, Canada has failed to show sufficient resolve in the face of surging hate against Jewish Canadians.
Many politicians have chosen to ‘both sides’ the issue, failing to distinguish between Israel as a democratic country, and Hamas as an explicitly genocidal terror group.
Some have been afraid to take action against antisemitic protests, and naively believed – falsely – that all newcomers had magically left antisemitic prejudice in their original countries. Of course, that’s not how it works. Many brought antisemitism with them. Just the same, the far left allied with many antisemitic groups and organizations under the thin guise of sharing views on foreign policy.
Further, antisemitism has surged among those born in Canada as well, with far-right influencers increasingly indulging in conspiratorial antisemitic rhetoric.
And all of this brings us to Bob Vylan.
A British rap duo, Bob Vylan went viral for leading a crowd in a chant calling for the death of the Israel Defense Forces. While some on the extremes foolishly tried to claim it was just a ‘political message’, those claims were rendered completely laughable when more clips emerged of the group explicitly calling for the death of IDF personnel:
There is nothing subtle here.
And Canada’s response should not be subtle either.
Bob Vylan should be banned from entering Canada.
Our country has regularly banned individuals for spreading hate, and this is a case where such a ban should be applied.
We cannot allow someone into Canada who will be focused on whipping up anti-semitic sentiment.
Banning Bob Vylan would send a clear message that Canada’s weakness in the face of antisemitism was coming to an end.
It’s time for Canada to stand up for our values and for Jewish Canadians. And that means banning Bob Vylan from entering this country.
Spencer Fernando
Image – Twitter
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