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Montreal-area mayor calls on municipal leaders to condemn recent antisemitic acts

May 20, 2021 | 1:09 PM

MONTREAL — The mayor of a Montreal suburb is calling for other municipal leaders to denounce antisemitism after several recent anti-Jewish incidents in the region.

Mitchell Brownstein, mayor of Côte-Saint-Luc, which has a large Jewish community, says he met with Montreal police today.

He says police told him they believe the threat of anti-Jewish attacks is low but are ready to protect residents.

Brownstein says people in his community are worried after receiving online threats and witnessing anti-Jewish incidents, including on Monday when two men were arrested after they drove into Côte-Saint-Luc and allegedly yelled antisemitic comments at people. 

The chair of the youth council in the borough of Montréal-Nord was removed from his position Wednesday over posts on his Instagram page that were described as racist.

Several posts on Zakaria Zaki Rouaghi’s Instagram page show him insulting police during a counter-protest to a pro-Israel gathering on Sunday. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press