Truck displaying anti-Muslim messages is owned by Rebel News

An advertising truck displaying anti-Muslim images and messages was seen this week driving around Toronto. Police confirmed they had opened an investigation. However, the truck itself is owned by Rebel News Network, according to a provincial database.

A license plate search of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation database shows that the commercial plate attached to the truck is registered as Rebel News Network Ltd.

In interview at CBCthe boss of Rebel confirmed that the truck belongs to them. However, he claims that the messages were created by a third-party activist group.

The owner of Rebel News, Ezra Levantsaid the posts were created by a group called Canadians Opposed to the Occupation of our Streets and Campuses [Canadiens opposés à l’occupation de nos rues et de nos campus, traduction libre]. Mr. Levant would not reveal the identity of the people behind this group, nor confirm whether it is based in Toronto.

They are worried about violence and they have every right to bedid he declare.

In a social media post Wednesday, Toronto police said their hate crimes unit had launched an investigation.

We recognize community concern over truck displaying Islamophobic messages in Torontocan we read in the message.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the truck, or who has seen it or who has video or photos, to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

In a message published on the website of Rebel NewsMr Levant confirmed police were investigating and also directed readers to a fundraising page set up for the truck and to help me pay our lawyer to fight this police investigation.

Besieged

In videos posted on social media, we see a truck that appears to display a series of questions on screens: Is this Lebanon? Is it Yemen? Is this Syria? Is it Iraq?

The truck then displays images of what appear to be Muslims praying and protesting in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. Palestinian flags and the square’s concrete arches are visible in the images.

The messages on the truck then state: No. This is Canada. Wake up, Canada. You are under siege.

Addressing CBCMr. Levant spoke about the regular protests by pro-Palestinian groups in Toronto in recent months.

He also referred to shootings allegedly fired at a Jewish school last month.

According to Mr. Levantall this happens under the sleepy look of the Toronto Police.

But as soon as a concerned community group releases a peaceful, critical ad on a vanity truck, Toronto police jump on the opportunity and label their peaceful political views a hate crime.did he declare.

This is obviously not the case, it is the culture of banishment applied by the Toronto police. They will obviously lose in court, but it shows the type of two-tier policing we have.

Very hateful message

Toronto is a city where everyone has their place. Prayers are welcome, whether you want to pray at a synagogue, mosque or church, or even at a local park or community center. It is your freedom to do so.

Islamophobia has no place in this city. No more than hatred and division.

Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative for combating Islamophobia, said in an interview Wednesday that she was surprised and disappointed when she heard about the truck.

This kind of [campagne] really sends an unfortunate message of division and hatredshe declared, adding that it has no place in Canada.

and now anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Arab racism– are not new phenomena. The forms they can take may differ”,”text”:”Unfortunately, Islamophobia – and now anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Arab racism – are not new phenomena. The forms they can take may differ”}}”>Unfortunately, Islamophobia – and now anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Arab racism – are not new phenomena. The forms they can take may differexplained Ms. Elghawaby. What is most alarming, of course, is when they lead to Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab violence.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCMC), a non-profit organization that describes itself as a leading voice for Muslim civic engagementsaid in a social media post Tuesday that the message on the truck is designed to instill fear among Muslims in Canada.

This is an extremely dangerous message, which should not be tolerated. We have already seen Islamophobic hatred cause deaths in Canada, including in Ontariowe read there.

This public campaign is pure Islamophobia and hatred.

With reporting from CBC’s Thomas Daigle and Aaron Saltzman