Bright pink billboards with 'bold slogans' fighting rising antisemitism in Toronto

A campaign against antisemitism is featuringbright pink billboardson some of Toronto's main roadways in a bid to grab people's attention and spark change.

Two non-profit organizations, StandWithUs Canada and a U.S.-based group calledJewBelong,recently launched the effort toraise awareness about the increasing number of antisemitic incidents in Canada and worldwide.

"We really think that education is the road to peace," said Rebecca Katzman, senior director of campus affairs with StandWithUs Canada, whichhas a long history of running educational billboard campaigns about Israel in Vancouver, as well as throughout the U.S., Israel andSouth Africa.

The three billboards,visible on Spadina Avenue, the Don Valley Parkway and the GardinerExpressway, feature "bold slogans," according to a news release from the two groups."We're just 75 years since the gas chambers. So, no, a billboard calling out bigotry against Jews isn't an overreaction," and "Does your church need armed guards? 'Cause our synagogue does," they say.

The campaign comesat a time when the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is dealing with atleast six antisemitic incidents in just over a month frommiddle schoolers performing a Nazi salutein front of a Jewish teacherto a hate-crimes investigation intothree separate high schoolsspray-painted withNazi symbols.The TDSBhas said it willincrease educational programming aboutantisemitism and the Holocaust.

"We want people to think about things that Jewish people face on a daily basis ...Jewish people are harassed, they face antisemitism and violent threats," Katzman said.

JewBelongsays the rise in hateful incidents goes beyond Toronto, adding the organization noted a spike in antisemitism last spring.

"I saw antisemitism become normalized practically overnight. It was very distressing and I don't think there was a forceful enough voice from Jewish groups or allies speaking out,"saidArchie Gottesman, the non-profit's co-founder.

The billboards will be up until March 27, butGottesmansays resources are also available on their website and social media channels.

"Most people are not full of hate," she said. "Most people just don't realize antisemitism is on the rise, and that's our mainaudience."

GottesmansaysJewBelong is looking at additional locationswithin Toronto andother citiesto spread the campaign even further. JewBelong's billboardshavealready appeared in U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Boston and Orlando, Fla.

Antisemitism 'exploding,'B'nai BrithCanada says

B'nai Brith Canada, a Jewish human rights organization,says while it's not involved, itfully supports the billboards.

"We hope this campaign raises awareness on the issue and motivates others to get involved," said Henry Lovgren, the organization's research and data analyst.

B'nai Brith'slatestauditfound an average of more than sevenantisemitic incidents occurred in Canada perday in 2020, an 18.3 per cent increase from the previous year, andthe fifth record setting year.

Lovgren says its2021 audit will be released later this year.

"Antisemitism is exploding online and across schools," he said, noting the TDSB incidents.

"We need a campaign like this because antisemitism is so often forgotten or not considered when we discuss different ways there's discrimination in society, andoften antisemitism comes up when societies face strong divisions as we're seeing now."

Katzmanhopes the billboards also inspire more action.

"If you see something that is antisemitic, call it out, speak to somebody, or report it to the police."