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Toronto (June 30, 2023) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is horrified by Wednesday’s heinous stabbing attack inside a gender studies class at the University of Waterloo, which left a professor and two students with serious injuries.

Waterloo Regional Police have stated that the attack appears to have been a “hate-motivated incident related to gender expression and gender identity.” 
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FSWC Director of Allyship and Community Engagement Dan Panneton issued the following statement in response to the attack:

“At a time of rising hate crimes, including a particular increase in anti-LGBTQ2S+ sentiment as of late, it’s critical for all communities to stand united against hate. The Jewish community knows all too well the extreme violence that words can ultimately lead to, so it’s more important than ever to be allies against hateful rhetoric targeting women, LGBTQ2S+ and other at-risk communities.

This targeted attack once again reminds us of the important role education plays in promoting understanding, inclusion and diversity, and the importance of speaking out against those who seek to instill fear, hate and division. We denounce this despicable attack, and our thoughts are with the injured victims and the University of Waterloo community.”