Canadian Jews Renew Plea to Parliament to Ban Hate Literature

A renewed plea for the passage by the Canadian Parliament of a law banning the distribution of anti-Semitic and other types of hate literature was voiced here today by Sydney M. Harris, chairman of the National Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Mr. Harris made his statement in reply to one issued by tie Rev. J. R. Hord, secretary of the Board of Evangelism and Social Service of the United Church of Canada. The minister had declared himself opposed to legislation that would punish distributors of hate literature, saying that sending such men to jail “was not the answer,” In his answer, Mr. Harris declared:

“The Canadian Jewish Congress is primarily interested in the enactment of legislation which will translate into law what is already declared to be the public policy of Canada–that every person under the Queen’s protection is entitled to have his human dignity and personal integrity secured by the state. Thus we are less interested in penalties than we are in the positive statements of the right to be respected as persons and to live securely in our society. Gross manifestations of hate are as morally disgusting as gross pornography and should be under the same legal sanctions. Methods of punishment are for Parliament to determine but the policy of the law is fit subject to be recommended by citizens to the legislators.”