Winnipeg police investigate two hate-motivated vandalism incidents at a Palestinian-owned café and a synagogue, prompting community concern
Winnipeg Police Investigate Vandalism as Hate Crimes
City police are investigating two recent incidents of vandalism at a hookah lounge and a synagogue as hate crimes. The Winnipeg Police Service announced this at a news conference on Monday.
“Within a matter of days, the Jewish and Palestinian communities have been impacted by incidents that appear to be motivated by hate, but certainly caused fear and harm,” said Insp. Jennifer McKinnon from the WPS’s major crimes unit. “The victims are not isolated to those on the receiving end of the harmful actions. These incidents affect all of us and have a detrimental impact on our entire community.”
Details of the Incidents
| Location | Incident | Date & Time |
|---|---|---|
| Habibiz Cafe | Vandalism with broken windows and a hate note | Sunday, shortly before 5 a.m. |
| Congregation Shaarey Zedek | Graffiti with swastikas and the word “hate” | Friday, at about 4:30 a.m. |
The Habibiz Cafe, located at 1373 Portage Ave., was vandalized early Sunday morning. Someone smashed the front windows and left a note saying, “Leave our country terrorist. F—k off.” The owner, Ali Zeid, is of Palestinian heritage and has operated the café for five years.
“I don’t know where they want me to go,” Zeid said. “I was born at the Grace Hospital. We’re not leaving. We’re staying. We’re open. Nothing is going to stop us.” Zeid also mentioned being confronted in a back alley a few days before the attack.
Police could not confirm if the two incidents were connected. On Friday, at about 4:30 a.m., someone spray-painted two swastikas and the word “hate” on the doors of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Maintenance staff found the graffiti later that morning. A suspicious bag was also found at the scene, but it posed no threat to the public.
Community Reactions
“The problem is we don’t think that it’s an isolated thing,” said Rena Secter Elbaze, executive director at Shaarey Zedek. “It’s part of a climate of hatred that is growing and is being allowed.”
McKinnon stated that police do not believe the incidents were connected, but she is cautious in making that statement early in the investigation. In October, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg announced it was hiring a regional director of security to enhance safety for Jewish communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“We are concerned that this type of attack, intimidation, displays of hate and antisemitism are becoming normalized in our Canadian way of life,” said Gustavo Zentner, vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Mayor Scott Gillingham addressed both incidents on social media and at city hall. “We don’t want to see this,” he said, expressing concern about rising antisemitism in Winnipeg and across Canada. “These two incidents were very intentional. They’re trying to intimidate and target individuals of different ethnicities.”
Gillingham reached out to both Shaarey Zedek and Zeid to express his support. McKinnon urged the community to stand against hate. “We cannot be casual bystanders for these types of incidents that are happening in our community,” she said.
Gillingham echoed this sentiment, encouraging community members to speak out against hate when they see or hear it.
