"Canada, You're in Big Trouble"

"This was the friendly Canadian welcome I received at the University of Calgary."

"Canada, you're in big trouble. These are not political protests. These are jihadi war cries. Don't let this hateful extremism define Canada."

"I was told Canadians are polite and friendly. Instead, I was welcomed to the University of Calgary by an Islamist mob chanting ‘Allahu Akbar!’."

"Thank you @standwithuscanada for bringing me to speak with students and to campus security for keeping all of us safe." 

"This is actually the first time that I’ve had an experience like this. Very quickly, the large protest that had organized outside on the lawn must’ve realized where we were and descended on the door of the lecture hall, crying ‘Allahu Akbar!’ And other cries accusing me of (committing) genocide."

"One can only try to engage so much with the people who have made their minds up and are clearly extremely hostile. But I really believe there is a large majority out there who do not want to see this kind of Jihadi extremism defining what campus life is like."

Eylon Levy, Israeli journalist, former government spokesperson

"This event was organized in response to interest from University of Calgary students seeking to engage with a knowledgeable figure on Middle Eastern issues. As a former Israeli government spokesperson and experienced journalist, Mr. Levy provided an informed perspective on the regional dynamics affecting Israel and its neighbours."

"Calgary Security reported that protesters were moving toward the back of the building, which could have blocked access to the room from both sides, effectively barricading Mr. Levy and the over 15 University of Calgary students who attended."

"StandWithUs Canada supports the right to peaceful protest. However, the behaviour of groups attempting to disrupt the event went beyond peaceful expression, escalating into harassment, intimidation, and obstruction that compromised the safety and rights of attendees."

"No exceptions should be made for groups whose actions promote violence or intimidation, as these undermine the fundamental rights of all students to exist in safety and with dignity."

StandWithUs Canada 

"This protest was prompted because of a man by the name of Eylon Levy. We believe that the university should not allow an individual like that to be on campus. Although, we fully believe in free speech — all we say is that somebody who has promoted genocide constantly shouldn’t feel welcome on campus."

"We can notice that the University of Calgary population as a whole believes that we don’t welcome individuals that have showcased genocidal intentions against Palestinian people in the past. That’s been a primary motivation and we can see that many students are in favour." 

Muslim Students' Association

 

"Freedom of expression and lawful assembly are permitted at the university and a booking is not an indication of support or non-support for an activity."

"The University of Calgary is committed to the principles of academic freedom and promoting the free exchange of ideas on campus."

"Campus Security works with groups who intend to hold events at the University of Calgary to ensure they follow university safety guidelines and have adequate security present."

University of Calgary statement

Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy speaks to media in Tel Aviv on Nov. 28, 2023. Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld /Getty Images

Canada, pointed out Eylon Levy, is in danger of being defined by "hateful extremism", an indelible impression he garnered when exposed to raging protesters who shouted "Allahu akbar" at his presence by invitation at the University of Calgary to address interested students wanting more information about the conflict between Israel and those who govern Gaza, the Hamas terrorist group, outlawed in most civil democratic countries of the West. Mr. Levy simply pointed out that Canadians themselves already know, and what the rest of the world has been watching at a distance, with incredulity.

A once-civil country for which courtesy to others was a sacrosanct duty of every citizen, where freedom of speech, religion, movement and ideology was guaranteed, along with equality of persons irrespective of origin, belief, religious devotion and cultural/ethnic backgrounds. Canadian laws still guarantee all those freedoms and security promises, but under the current government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals, societal-protective laws and just responses to slanderous and violent protests have been ignored.

Freedom of speech is guaranteed by this government that nonetheless countenances expressions of pure, unadulterated racism and declarations of hatred, along with statements in support of terrorism. While at the same time, freedom of speech is openly challenged and blocked for any who espouse truthful accuracy to counter-balance the spewing of fabrications and false accusations of that overworked word 'genocide'. Genocide attributed to the only people who have actually experienced it in this past century while justifying the violent sadistic savagery brought to that same people by the most virulent exponents of antisemitism.

 

Students take part in a rally in support of Palestine at the University of Calgary on Oct. 7, 2024. Photo by Brent Calver/Postmedia

 

Those who oppose the existence of Israel on grounds that the ancestral Judaic geography is a hoax of history by colonialist diaspora Jews who have wrested it from the actual colonialist Arabs of Egyptian and Syrian ancestry identifying as Palestinian, insist on their right to belittle, excoriate, slander and threaten any who speak in support of Israel and Jewish existence in their homeland, stridently and unlawfully cancelling their speech, justifying themselves as human rights supporters.

The university administration appears to have been aware that Palestinians, Muslims and their supporters on campus would plan for a loud and violent reaction organized to forcefully deny the featured speaker of the evening, Eylon Levy, along with the Jewish students and any others interested in his explanations. The October 31 lecture saw deputy provost Robin Yates and provost Sandra Davidson at the classroom where the lecture was taking place.

A university official rushed ahead of the anti-Israel mob that was pressing toward the classroom, stating they could "be subject to arrest". Posted outside the door of the classroom were security guards attempting to block the protesters from entry. The protesting mob spouted invective at the provost pair along with the security team. "We were offered an opportunity to hear him speak, but now we're being blocked", one student declared to the security guards. "Academic freedom, Academic freedom" the crowd shouted.

 

Photo by Daman Singh, The Gauntlet