This Monday, October 7th, marked the one-year anniversary of the attacks against Israel, where 1,200 men, women, and children – including 7 Canadians and citizens of more than 30 countries – were slaughtered by Hamas.
I first began writing this message at the end of August, when late-summer protests, fueled by antisemitism, were raging. As the new COO of CARP, I feel a deep responsibility to speak out against the rising tide of hate and antisemitism in Canada, which was once again on full public display this week.
Our membership includes many who lived through the darkest days of the 20th century. Some of you remember the Second World War vividly, while others have family members who fought bravely against the evils of Nazism and Hitler’s aggression in Europe. The fight against hatred was not just a battle on distant shores; it was a moral struggle that defined a generation. Those experiences have left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. This issue is one that we cannot ignore, especially at a time when the world is yearning for peace.
Acts of hate—whether vandalism, physical violence, or the spread of vile propaganda—are becoming alarmingly common at a time when the world is already suffering from ongoing conflicts and the devastating loss of civilian lives. Monday’s protests here at home not only included chants of “death to Israel,” but also “death to Canada.”
We cannot allow antisemitism, or any form of hatred, to become normalized in our society. We must speak out as individuals and as a united community. We must show our Jewish neighbors and all other victims of hate crimes that they are not alone—that we stand with them in solidarity against those who seek to harm them.
It is easy to hope that others will speak up. But we know from history that when we do not speak out, hatred is allowed to grow unchecked. We must not forget that atrocities begin with words—words of hate, spread by those who seek to divide and destroy. In a world where the hope for peace among nations seems ever more fragile, we must reject the poison of antisemitism.
Seniors understand the weight of history, and know that we must be vigilant in defending our shared values. Together, let us ensure that we are on the right side of history—by speaking out and by showing that we will not tolerate hatred in any form.
Anthony Quinn
Chief Operating Officer
Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP)
