
Whitby Councillor Chris Leahy has proposed a motion that would support a new Canadian law prohibiting public display of the Nazi Swastika and other Nazi iconography.
“Eighteen countries around the world have made it illegal to publicly display the Nazi Swastika. Canada should be the 19th country on that list,” said Leahy. The figures could not be independently confirmed. And, while , the public display of Nazi swastika may be illegal in some countries, it is permitted in certain cases such as artistic, educational, collecting or academic activity etc.
Leahy’s motion comes in the wake of two antisemitic crimes in Whitby in the past six months. Whitby library was the site of swastika graffiti last week (see below) and last August, a swastika was burned into a playing field at Prince of Wales Park in the eastern part of the town.
Leahy has condemned both hate motivated crimes and wants the Town of Whitby to go further than simply expressing sympathy.
He said his motion will be debated at the Whitby Council on February 3.
“The council floor is the place where we can emphatically tell the Jewish community we support them. I am also inviting the Whitby community to give a delegation in front of the mayor and all of council so that their voices are on the record.”
“My constituents are simply devastated that this has happened twice in the past six months in our town. I believe one of the best ways we can support them is to support initiatives that send a clear message; hate is not tolerated here,” said Leahy on Sunday. “When it comes to antisemitism, hopes and prayers don’t cut anymore.
“B’nai Brith, [one of] Canada’s oldest human rights organization, recently launched an online petition in support of a Nazi Swastika ban. We should do everything in our power to support them,” added Leahy.