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In 1977, the small town of Skokie, Illinois, became infamous when the National Socialist Party of America — neo-Nazis — planned a march through a predominantly Jewish community, many of whom were Holocaust survivors. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defended their right to free speech, overturning an injunction that would have stopped the march. For Jewish communities, it was a wake-up call — a stark reminder that even the most hateful ideologies could exploit democratic freedoms.

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Now, in 2025, Winnipeg faces its own Skokie moment.

Last week, Students Supporting Israel, a university group, organized an event featuring Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers who had fought against Hamas after the October 7th attacks. They were set to share their experiences of courage and sacrifice.

Before the location of the event was even publicly announced, anti-Israel activists mobilized. The Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) called for an “emergency rally” at the Rady Centre, a Jewish community hub, labeling the IDF soldiers as “war criminals” committing “genocide.” Protesters were instructed to wear masks and generic clothing to avoid identification. Warnings were issued to attendees, stating, “Do NOT post photos/vids that reveal anyone’s face.”

A related online petition demanded the event be canceled, with one supporter writing:
“Zionism is a disease, and Zionists are like infected cells… we need to do all we can to squash this rancid plague from the earth.”

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