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Haveil Havalim
TORONTO — Jewish and black leaders in Toronto stood side by side Friday to quell the “rage and frustration” that followed a decision to block a controversial black American lawyer and activist from entering Canada.
The tension had to be dealt with in a “mature manner,” black religious leader Rev. Don Meredith said at a press conference. He was joined by executives of B’nai Brith Canada, which had called on the government to keep Shabazz out of Canada.
“Today is not about dialogue, today is not about building bridges. Today is about partnerships, it’s about real, concrete working relationships,” said Frank Dimant, executive vice president of B’nai Brith Canada.
“As you know, there has been violence in the city over the last five years amongst our youth,” said Meredith, of the GTA Faith Alliance. “And so, it is not time for us to look at ways for dividing or bringing individuals in that will divide us. We have to look for opportunities that will bring us together.”
The New Black Youth Taking Action network was not invited to Friday’s event, but Meredith said he intends to reach out to its membership.
Meredith said he opposed the entry of Shabazz, just as he would oppose the entry of anyone who spread hateful messages.
Shabazz is a criminal defence lawyer based in Washington, D.C. who helped organize the Million Man March with Louis Farakhan of the Nation of Islam. He has been quoted as saying at a Harlem rally in 1998 that “the only solution any time there is a funeral in the black community is a funeral in the police community.”
He told the National Post this week that his intention was to “preach a message of love and solidarity among black people” at the Queen’s Park rally and said his denied entry into Canada calls into question the sanctity of free speech in this country.
Marvin Kurz, national legal counsel for B’nai Brith Canada, said the decision to oppose Shabazz’s entry was “a matter of consistency and principle.” He said the human rights organization took a similar position in the 1990s, when a group of Ku Klux Klansmen “tried to come to Canada and say pretty much the same kinds of things that Mr. Shabazz has said in the past.”
Shabazz has stated previously Jews were:
"substantially and significantly involved in the African holocaust" and "Zionists are causing problems for people of colour around the world".He is a previous member of another controversial black group, the Nation of Islam.
BB: The New Black Panthers aren't about civil rights or equality, they represent the worst elements of race segregation and inter racial hatred. Shabazz has an appalling record for both racism against whites and for Antisemitism, he has continually tried to put forward that Israel was behind the 9-11 terrorist attack.
Its good to see that Canada will not tolerate this bigot.
References:
Canada.com: Jewish, black community leaders call for calm
ADL Report on: Malik Zulu Shabazz
ADL: New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense
Further reading:
BBC: Radical black leader to visit UK
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