O4P condemns U of T for allowing Davidai’s presence on campus
On October 21, a former assistant professor from Columbia University, Shai Davidai, held a rally at King’s College Circle protesting anti-Zionism and antisemitism at U of T. The rally marked the second day of his tour led by the Tafsik Organization — a group that rallies across Canadian universities to stand against antisemitism and anti-Zionism.
Davidai, who faces multiple allegations ranging from racism to doxxing, was suspended from Columbia University after reportedly harassing and intimidating university employees.
The student-led UofT Occupy for Palestine (O4P) group organized a press conference outside Simcoe Hall on October 21 at 11:30 am, immediately before the scheduled time for Davidai’s rally. The group condemned U of T for allowing Davidai on campus and disregarding concerns O4P raised about his presence.
“As Palestinian students and allies, we know from lived experiences that the University of Toronto’s administration is neither prepared nor willing to protect us… whether it was during the occupation of Simcoe Hall, at the encampment, or in our everyday campus life,” said Palestinian U of T student, Serene Paul, during the press conference.
Jewish community members also shared their perspectives on Davidai’s presence and the rally during the press conference.
“We [Jewish people] are not a monolith and… many pro-Israel counter-protesters have discredited the Jewish of myself and others by referring to us as ‘self-declared as well as self-hating Jews’… and have subjected us to threats of physical violence and doxxing. This erasure itself is deeply anti-semitic,” said Colin Pigeon Edwards, a Jewish PhD student in the Faculty of Music.
Sarit Cantor, a recent graduate of the masters of pastoral studies program at U of T — recently renamed to psychospiritual studies in September — and a member of the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition, added, “Zionism has become a home for violence so vast, so destructive. The ways that Israel and its supporters stitch Judaism and Zionism together is a complete corruption of Jewish teachings.” (more...)
Suspended Columbia professor holds Zionism rally at King’s College Circle
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