Toronto police are investigating the Immigration Watch Canada posters which appeared on York’s campus and the Village in August.
The posters in question display the York logo and target immigrants at York.
“If mass third world migration continues, White Canadians will be reduced to a persecuted minority,” the posters read.
Joanne Rider of York media says the posters were removed because there was no permission granted to post them. Official notification was sent to Immigrant Watch Canada instructing the organization to cease and desist using York’s logo and photographs.
“Diversity and inclusiveness are core values of York University,” says Rider.
According to Jenniferjit Sidhu, a media relations officer for Toronto Police Service, they received a radio call regarding the posters on Friday, August 1. York Security also provided a copy of the poster to the police.
According to Sidhu, the TPS Hate Crime Unit is reviewing the posters to confirm whether they constitute as potential hate propaganda. She also notes similarities to the posters which appeared in Brampton on April 22. However, it was determined after consultation that while the posters may be considered to be racist and offensive, they do not meet the threshold of the hate crime criteria in the Criminal Code of Canada.
“Why would we not distribute them at York?” says Dan Murray of Immigration Watch Canada. Does York deserve some immunity from exposure to free speech? Does the material in the flyers conflict with York ideology?”
Various campus groups and students have spoken out regarding the offensive posters.
“No one should be subjected to such hateful and offensive messaging on their campus or in their community,” said Mithilen Mathipalan, vice-president equity of the York Federation of Students in a press release.
“Students deserve to live, work and study without fear of discrimination or harassment.”
“There is absolutely no place for this at York University,” said Mathipalan.
“We commend the administration for acting so quickly in removing these posters,” said Tamara Caplan, director of Hillel @ York.
“Hillel embraces multiculturalism and diversity on campus, and we encourage all students to speak out with us vigorously against acts of bigotry.”
Sidhu of TPS says each appearance of the flyers is investigated separately.
“We encourage anyone receiving these or any similar flyers to continue to report them to the police,” says Sidhu.
No criminal charges have been laid at this time.
Ashley Glovasky, News Editor
Photo courtesy of YorkU Memes.
