Toronto (June 29, 2020) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) has reached out to a local sign rental company demanding they immediately take down a vandalized advertising sign located in the north end of Toronto that reads "Jews are owners! Occupiers!"

The antisemitic message appearing on the sign, which sits on Bathurst Street just south of the 401, was first reported to FSWC on Saturday. The company that owns the sign confirmed to FSWC that the antisemitic message would be removed today.
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"This is a very disgusting effort to promote age-old antisemitic canards that Jews exert nefarious economic control and are occupiers and usurpers," said Rabbi Meyer May, Executive Director of Simon Wiesenthal Center. "The sign is located in an area with many Jewish residents, and surely many Jewish passersby noticed the sign and were horrified and threatened by its hateful message.”

"We urge anyone who sees hateful public displays to always immediately report the information to us so that we can take action to ensure our community’s safety," said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of FSWC's Campaign Against Antisemitism. "We appreciate that the sign rental company recognized that the message was grossly hateful and has promised its immediate removal."

The sign was intended to promote a pro-Israel initiative called Israel Truth Week, and originally read "Jews are owners, not occupiers!" before it was vandalized.

To report antisemitic incidents to FSWC, please go HERE.

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