TORONTO(July 14, 2017) – Based on recent reports, a Montreal couple was refused helpfrom police after discovering a swastika and hateful message on their car.While police have since responded, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) isdisappointed in the way the matter was initially handled.

Policeoriginally told the couple that a hate crime report would not be filed and thatthe couple should simply wash the graffiti off the car.

“As thenumber of hate crimes against Jewish people continues to be at an all-time highin Canada, it’s up to the police to ensure these incidents are dealt withseriously and action is taken to prevent future incidents,” said Avi Benlolo,FSWC President and CEO.

CoreyFleischer – a community activist and speaker at FSWC’s upcoming Freedom Day –was called in to wash the hateful graffiti.

AFacebook video of Fleischer cleaning the graffiti was brought to the attentionof police – who then began an investigation into the incident.

FSWCcontinues to track and report on antisemitic incidents throughout Canada on itswebsite at www.fswc.ca.

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To arrange an interview with AviBenlolo, please contact:

Avital Borisovsky
Communications Associate  
416.864.9735 x 29 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

Atara Cadesky
Communications Associate
416.864.9735 x 30 
acadesky@fswc.ca

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Follow us on Twitter at @CanadianFSWC for latest news and organization updates.

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

Canadian Headquarters: Toronto  

Branches: Los Angeles • New York • Chicago • Paris • Buenos Aires • Israel