This Ontario town had a swastika burned into a soccer field. Now residents want to ban the symbol nationwide

Over the last six months, residents of Whitby, Ont., have discovered multiple Nazi swastikas around towbn, including carved into the walls of their main library's washroom and burned with chemicals onto a popular soccer field. Police are investigating, but no one's been caught.

The antisemitic incidents have shocked the local Jewish community of 1,000 families, members of which say, by and large, that most people feel relatively safe in Whitby. They're also grateful for the latest support from the mayor, town council, Durham regional police and local faith groups.

In response to the events, last week, the Town of Whitby voted to ask Ottawa to ban the Nazi swastika, also pledging to develop better internal protocols to handle future hate symbols when discovered. The town's motions have had a domino effect, and politicians in neighbouring communities are taking notice. Durham Region councillors will consider the same swastika ban on Feb. 12, while the Pickering will consider it at the end of the month.

On today's episode of The CJN Daily, we hear from Rabbi Tzali Borenstein, spiritual leader of Chabad of Durham; Whitby town councillor Chris Leahy, who brought the original motions forward; Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy; and professor Tessa Troughton, whose child has witnessed Nazi salutes at her local high school, including students mimicking Elon Musk.

What we talked about:

• Read the motions passed by Whitby Town Council on Monday Feb. 3, 2025 to a) support the call to ban the swastika and b) to develop a protocol to react better to cases of antisemitism when municipal staff discover it.
• Learn more about B’nai Brith Canada’s campaign to ban the display of the Nazi swastika by modifying the criminal code.
• Hear more from Durham District school trustee Emma Cunningham about antisemitism in Whitby, on The CJN Daily’s political panel, from Dec. 2024.

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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