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National Post

Leslie Roberts: A Jewish man is attacked in front of his daughter, his kippah thrown in a puddle

Article content This is not political debate — it's the normalization of intimidation and, in some cases, the celebration of violence. Article content On August 6, Hamas, itself, urged supporters to 'intensify popular pressure in all cities, capitals, and public squares' over the coming weekend — in both Arabic and English. That call is not abstract. It's happening here. Article content It has been said more than once that eventually someone's going to get hurt. Is this that incident? We don't have to answer that question. We know what happened was enough to take further action. And yet here we are — same milquetoast response from authorities as everything else. Article content The graffiti, the threats, the marches. What's it going to take for someone in a position of authority to end this campaign against the Jewish community? Where are the fellow Montrealers asking what has happened to our city — let alone Toronto, B.C., and the rest of the country? Article content As a born-and-bred Montrealer, I feel we've let some of our Jewish neighbours, friends and family feel alone and unsupported. History will judge us for that, and so much more. Article content Whether the Montreal attacker was motivated by ideology or mental illness, it is clear the broader climate is making such attacks more likely. Article content Hate crimes thrive in an environment where they are minimized, dismissed and ignored. Our leaders have a choice: to speak out, clearly and unequivocally, against all forms of hate and political violence — or to tacitly allow these acts to become part of our new normal. Article content