Hateful signs about Israel-Hamas conflict ramping up tensions in Winnipeg
People on both sides are taking issue with some signs and social media posts
WARNING: This story contains images of offensive protest signs.
Tensions in Winnipeg are growing amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, causing some members of the city's Jewish and Palestinian communities to contact police about hateful signs at protests and posts being circulated on social media.
Priel Lisak, a Winnipegger from Israel who still has family living there, said when she saw a recent photo of a protester's sign depicting an Israeli flag being thrown in the garbage with the caption 'Please keep the world clean," she reported it to police.
Lisak said she "absolutely believes in people's right to speak about whatever they think is wrong," but feels there's a way to do so that's not hurtful to others.
"When I see something like a war so far away escalate … it kind of feels like it's being brought home," said Lisak. "It definitely worries myself and others around me, my family and my community."
WATCH | Hateful signs about Israel-Hamas conflict ramping up tensions in Winnipeg:
Winnipeg police have seen an escalation in suspected hate-motivated crimes as the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to tensions in the city, police officials said during a news conference Thursday.
And the same hateful messaging Lisak saw from a protest sign is also being circulated in reverse on social media with an image of a Palestinian flag being thrown in the garbage.
"I don't agree with this kind of thing," said Lisak. "I think on both sides, and I've seen this in Palestinian protests and I've seen this in Israeli protests, there are definitely individuals who take it a step too far."
Ramsey Zeid, the president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, said he's also contacted police about hateful images on social media. He added the sign seen at the protest with the Israeli flag being thrown in the garbage doesn't represent the city's Palestinian community.
Many other people came to the rally with positive intentions the day the photo was taken, he said, but that's being put to the side because of the sign.
"I don't think it represents the whole community, just as the same way an Israeli would say that their posts don't represent the whole community," he said. "You can't let one person represent a whole community."
The community leader said he tries to keep hateful messages out of the protests, but admits it can be hard in a large crowd.
"We have volunteers that are going around all the time looking at the signs, taking signs down … making sure everybody's safe, that … it's not antisemitic," he said. "But things slip by."
Kurt Phillips is a board member with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. He said rather than focusing on one image, it's important to understand that people will use what's happening in the Middle East to fuel antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric.
"I think that we're living in a time … where emotions are incredibly raw and people are lashing out," he said.
"I'm not going to say that any Islamophobic or antisemitic sign or message is understandable or acceptable at all. I don't think that we can go down that path.
"But the danger is we have people who know how raw emotions are and are trying to use that to create wedge issues in our society, not just in Canada but around the world."
Phillips also said it's always important to call out antisemitism and Islamophobia "regardless of where it is."
"It has a tendency to grow, it has a tendency to expand from just one or two individuals."
Winnipeg MP planning event aimed at fighting discrimination
Meanwhile in the River Heights neighbourhood, Winnipeg police said Thursday they're investigating a number of potential hate-motivated crimes. In one case, a home had its front windows shot out and in another, a religious item was vandalized and left in a parking lot.
Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr said he's been hearing from residents who are scared about the incidents reported to police. Carr added he's planning an event aimed at fighting discrimination.
<a href="https://t.co/FxBwc8PXMy">pic.twitter.com/FxBwc8PXMy</a>
—@BenCarrwpg"We are not going to be able to dictate the outcome of the conflict in the Middle East. It's just simply not within our control, said Carr.
"We all want to see peace in this region as quickly as possible. We want to see an end to the conflict. But what we can control here at home is the decision to be kind, respectful and dignified."
With files from Emily Brass