TORONTO (September 27, 2017) - Friendsof Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is urging Peterborough's mayor andcouncillors to pull a permit that was granted by city staff toself-proclaimed white nationalists for a rally on city property.

FSWC spoke with the city's mayor today and reached out to thePeterborough police chief. The organization also sent a letter to the mayor andcouncillors expressing concern about the rally and urging reconsideration ofthe permit. 

"There is nothing peaceful about white nationalists marchingin public spewing messages of hate and intolerance," said FSWC Presidentand CEO Avi Benlolo. "The mayor and city councillors must intervene toreverse this decision immediately."

Being hailed as an anti-illegal immigration rally, the eventis being organized by a group called the Canadian Nationalist Front and isset to take place this Saturday. City staff have argued that therally is expected to be peaceful and should therefore be permitted.

This is just one of many other anti-immigration protests that areset to take place in public spaces this weekend. FSWC has so far learned thatrallies will also be held in Windsor and Edmonton.

Through its advocacy initiatives and educational programs - suchas Tour for Humanity, Freedom Day and the National Policy Conference onHolocaust Education - FSWC speaks out against all forms of hate andantisemitism, and is committed to promoting tolerance and acceptance incommunities throughout Canada.

To arrange an interview with Avi Benlolo, please contact:

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

Avital Borisovsky 
Communications Associate   
416.864.9735 x 30
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a topJewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. Itdirectly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally.FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting theprinciples of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values throughadvocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spiritof Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour forHumanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an internationalJewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won twoAcademy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built inJerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Councilof 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