Media Resources

Releases Subject Index Releases List Event Calendar Submit a news release or Calendar event Include yourself in SOURCES
 FAQ
 Membership Form Be an Affiliate Powerful Tools Tell your story Media Directory
 Media Releases
 Sources Bookshelf
 Sources Newsstand
 Subscriptions Connexions Radical Digressions Sources HotLink Sources Select Resources Twitter Download PDFs Contact

RSS

Media Releases from members of Sources.
To submit a news release, use this form.

Author warns coalition of MPs (CPCCA) intent on criminalizing free speech on Israel/Palestine

September 11, 2010

The author of a new book on antisemitism kicks off a western Canada tour Sept. 17 to sound an alarm that the federal government could curtail -- or even criminalize -- freedom of speech and academic freedom around Israel and Palestine.

Dr. Michael Keefer wrote Antisemitism Real and Imagined to inform Canadians of the growing trend to intimidate and silence those who challenge Israel’s actions, including attempts to ban Israeli Apartheid Weeks on college campuses and to deny funding to ecumenical groups like KAIROS that speak out about Israel’s illegal occupation.

Even more threatening is the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism, an informal grouping of Conservative, Liberal and NDP MPs formed in 2009 to investigate what it claimed was an alarming increase in antisemitism. Its report, scheduled to be released in Ottawa in November, is expected to recommend that the federal government modify human rights or hate speech legislation to outlaw criticism of Israel.

According to the University of Guelph professor, the evidence shows that incidents of real anti-Semitism – discrimination or hatred against Jews – is actually declining. The real purpose of the CPCCA, he says, is to defend Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and silence critics by accusing them of being antisemitic.

Keefer is scheduled to speak in Vancouver at UBC on Sept. 17, SFU on Sept. 23 and in downtown Sept. 23; Victoria on Sept. 24; Nanaimo and Comox, Sept. 25; Edmonton, Sept. 27; Regina, Sept. 28; and Winnipeg Sept. 29. Speaking engagements in eastern Canada are also being organized.

Keefer’s book tour is sponsored by the Seriously Free Speech Committee, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and community organizations across western Canada.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael Keefer at: mhkeefer@gmail.com or
Brian Campbell, chair, Seriously Free Speech Committee at: 604-254-1803 or
info@seriouslyfreespeech.ca




For more information contact:
Brian Campbell
Co-chair
Seriously Free Speech Committee
Phone: 604 254 1803
Email: campbell@vcn.bc.ca
Website: www.seriouslyfreespeech.ca

Dr. Michael Keefer
Professor of English and Theatre Studies
University of Guelph
Email: mhkeefer@gmail.com

Anne Roberts
Co-chair
Seriously Free Speech Committee
Phone: 604 872 8926
Cell: 778 988 7758
Email: anne_roberts@shaw.ca
Website: www.seriouslyfreespeech.ca

Click here to view our Sources Listing:

Seriously Free Speech Committee


Topics:


  • To submit a news release, use this form
  • Use the News Releases Topic Index for releases by topic
  • Use the Sources Subject Index for experts and spokespersons
    •     Information and Media Resources from Sources
    Main News Release page Media releases from clients of the Sources media relations service.
    Sources Calendar Check out newsworthy events from across Canada.
    Sources Directory Search the Sources directory of experts, contacts and media spokespersons. Find how to include yourself in Sources.
    Publish your news releases Sources can help you distribute your media releases
    Media Names & Numbers Directory of Canada's print and broadcast media.
    Parliamentary Names & Numbers Full contact information for government, political parties, lobbyists, and embassies.

    Sources home page