The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says lawyers will represent volunteers pro bono in any preliminary, investigative, or legal proceedings.
Students at McGill University main campus in Montreal, Quebec. ( DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)
By Isaac Teo
An advocacy group that represents Jewish federations across Canada has reached out to its community, calling for volunteers willing to step up as plaintiffs in civil court actions against anti-Semites at Canadian universities.
“You will not be liable for costs, as those would be covered. The whole Jewish community stands with you.”
The CIJA says the “huge spike” in anti-Semitism in Canada, following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel, prompted it to start its “Legal Rapid Response Team,” with a focus on addressing “Jew-hatred” in schools and universities.
“Simply put, administrators have failed to address Jew-hatred in our educational institutions. Universities and schools have, all too often, failed to keep our students safe,” said Nanette Rosen and Mark Freiman, co-chairs of the legal task force, in the appeal.
“[T]o ensure safe academic environments, we need people who are willing and ready to step up and say something about hateful incidents on campus.”
The centre’s appeal follows a class-action lawsuit launched by private lawyers whose clients alleged four Canadian universities failed to address recurring anti-Semitic incidents at their campuses over a span of two decades.
The lawsuit represents both present Jewish students at each university and alumni spanning back to 1998.