Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Ottawa cites hate crime laws when asked about its 'zero tolerance' for Israel boycotters

"'It is the right and duty of citizens in any free state to engage in constructive non-violent peaceful criticism of state actions and behaviours,' says Patti Talbot, a senior staff member at the UCC.

The church sees itself as anti-racist and progressive, which is why it was horrified by the government's description of its advocacy as anti-Semitism, and worried by the declaration of zero tolerance.

'How is [zero tolerance] going to manifest itself?' asks Talbot. 'It could be directed against the United Church, it could be directed at a gamut of individuals in Canadian civil society. People of goodwill.'"

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