Article content
A former spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Canada is in danger of being defined by “hateful extremism” after angry protesters shouting “Allahu Akbar” tried to storm his lecture at the University of Calgary.
“This was the friendly Canadian welcome I received at the University of Calgary,” Eylon Levy wrote in a post on X. “Canada, you’re in big trouble. These are not political protests. These are jihadi war cries. Don’t let this hateful extremism define Canada.”
Article content
It appears the university was aware of concerns for the safety of Levy and the students at his lecture on Oct. 31. Deputy Provost Dr. Robin Yates and Provost Dr. Sandra Davidson were outside the door to the classroom where Levy was speaking, reports the university’s student newspaper, The Gauntlet.
As the mob pressed toward the classroom where Levy was speaking, a university official rushed ahead of them, stating they could “be subject to arrest.”
Security guards were also posted outside the door, blocking protesters from entering. The students verbally attacked them, as seen in a video posted to social media. “How can you look online and see all those babies being beheaded? And you stand here for money?” shouts one student, pointing her finger at them.
Shouts from the crowd follow: “Shame. Shame!”
“We were offered an opportunity to hear him speak,” one student says to the security guards, “but now, we’re being blocked.” The crowd drowned him out with: “Academic freedom. Academic freedom.”
Recommended from Editorial
Levy was visiting the university at the invitation of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) and StandWithUs Canada. It was part of a fundraiser tour in Canada with StandWithUs Canada aimed at sharing the Israeli perspective on university campuses.
An email to the National Post from the university’s media relations office states: “The guest speaker was invited by a private group who booked space on campus at the University of Calgary through the Conference and Events Management process. The university permits meetings and events through bookings under its policy on ‘Use of University Facilities for Non-Academic Purposes’. Freedom of expression and lawful assembly are permitted at the university and a booking is not an indication of support or non-support for an activity.”
Notice of Levy’s lecture and talk prompted The Palestine Advocacy Club at the university to declare an emergency protest, according to The Gauntlet. The protesters’ actions are shown in a video from the club, later posted by Levy on his X account with commentary from him.
Article content
Students can be heard in the video yelling anti-Israel chants such as: “Eylon Levy, do you hear? How many children did you kill this year?”
And: “We are all Palestinians.”
The protest leaders asked the crowd to sit down and then told them: “All around the world, wherever they are, all oppressed people, their plight is our call.”
As the video proceeds, text begins to layer over the video. Initially, it states: “Waiting for the rat to escape.”
Further text layered on the video says: “This is what happens when you let a baby-killer on campus. Members of the administration literally protected that pig themselves.”
In its email to the Post, the university’s administration says controversial events are permitted once safety and security is assured.
“Freedom of expression and lawful assembly are permitted at the university, subject to the limits set out in our policy,” it said.
“While the university respects the right of people to gather, the university has the right under its policy on Use of University Facilities for Non-Academic Purposes to direct, limit or terminate group bookings or rallies after careful consideration of safety and security concerns.”
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Share this article in your social network
