Annamie Paul resigned today (Sept. 27) as leader of the Green Party, less than a year after winning the post.
The party remained at two seats after this month’s federal election, and Paul lost to the Liberals in her Toronto riding.
The first Jewish woman and first Black woman to lead a federal party, Paul said she is leaving now to avoid a leadership review, a process that was formally launched last weekend by members eager to replace her.
“I just asked myself whether this is something I wanted to continue, whether I was willing to put up with the attacks I knew would be coming, whether to continue to fight and struggle just to fulfill my democratically elected role as leader of this party,” Paul told reporters at a Toronto press conference. “I just don’t have the heart for it.”
It’s safe to say that no other head of a federal political party has taken as many body blows in a comparably short interval as did Paul. In a very short time, the knives were unsheathed, and Paul’s Judaism played a key role.
The list was long: Accusations of being soft on Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict, leading to the defection of one of three Green MPs to the Liberals; relatedly, Paul’s refusal to disavow a Jewish aide who said unnamed MPs would be defeated and replaced with Zionists; financial cuts, staff cutbacks, challenges to Paul’s leadership, and even to her membership in the party itself.
In July, she said the previous weeks had been “incredibly painful” for her and her family, and that she had considered quitting “many times.”
Being critical of Israel “is not antisemitism,” Paul said in July. “I have never suggested it is. But I will say that it’s been very difficult to see the questioning of my commitment to international law and human rights in this or any context.”
It was a very different Paul who, as a candidate for Green Party leader, penned the piece below in July 2020 for the Canadian Jewish Record, an online publication meant to bridge the time between The CJN’s folding and its return this past January. In it, Paul is hopeful and optimistic that winning the leadership of the Green Party “would send a powerful message to those seeking to spread hate that their time is up.”
You Can Respond to Hate with Hate or Convert it to a Teaching Moment. We Chose the Latter.
By ANNAMIE PAUL
One of the most significant moments of my life was the day I converted to Judaism. I spent my childhood growing up with Jewish friends, and my mother had always encouraged her children to find their own spiritual path. When my partner, who is Jewish, and I met in law school and decided to get married, I knew that I wanted to live a Jewish life and to raise a Jewish family. I converted over 20 years ago while studying for my Masters at Princeton University. The late Rabbi Jim Diamond—may his memory be a blessing—director of the campus Hillel and a fellow Canadian, supervised my conversion.
As a Black woman, I realized that converting would expose me to further discrimination. The history of my partner’s family—survivors of the Shoah—is a daily reminder of this fact. Nevertheless, the universal humanistic values of Judaism spoke to me and I was ready to take this step.
It has been a joy raising two Jewish sons and watching them celebrate their bar mitzvahs. My husband and I have told them of the solidarity between Black and Jewish communities during the civil rights movement and the allyship based on a common experience of persecution. It is never easy to sit your children down to explain why they will be targets of hate simply for being who they are. Nevertheless, it was our duty prepare them and to never let it weaken their pride.
Black and Jewish peoples need to decide early: Will racism and antisemitism embitter us, or will we work for positive change? I have encouraged my sons to opt for positive change and to model that to them in daily life. We are willing to educate any person who is open, even slightly, to understanding. However, where the heart and mind are closed, I want my kids to refuse to stay silent and to actively resist.
Last week, these principles were put to the test. As a candidate for the leadership of the Green Party of Canada, I was participating in a virtual regional debate. Not long into introductions, the word “N*IGGER” popped up, as did the phrase “f*cking jew.” I cannot know for certain whether these were intended for me—another candidate was named in the Jewish comment—but as I am the only Jew and the only Black candidate in the race, I naturally felt targeted. In any case, it was an unexpected shock. The perpetrators were removed, a reminder of the Green Party Code of Conduct was given, and the debate proceeded.
While this was the first occurrence in an online event, I have been subjected to months of antisemitic attacks. The moment it became known that I was Jewish, I was bombarded with questions about my positions on Israel, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, and the proposed annexation of West Bank territories. Despite having posted public statements on these matters, questions persist. My loyalty to Canada has also been called into question, and I have been accused of taking bribes from Israel, leading a Zionist take-over of the Green Party of Canada and of spreading hasbarah.
My children were watching the debate when the hate speech happened. You are never fully prepared to receive to see such worry in your sons’ eyes. As a family, we faced a choice: Respond to hate with hate, or convert it to a teaching moment. We chose the latter.
My sons helped me craft a tweet that we hoped would draw attention to the hateful incident and provoke a public discussion about racism and antisemitism. The post has been viewed more than 164,000 times and there has been an outpouring of solidarity.
There are clearly many people unwilling to allow hate to go unchallenged. These voices, when combined, can help to change minds and to drown out racism and antisemitism. The Green Party of Canada (GPC) is working to identify the perpetrators and has made it clear that if members were involved, they will be expelled. There is no place for such people in our party. The GPC will need to go further and actively root out discriminatory views, as well as monitor social media more proactively.
Winning the leadership of the Green Party of Canada would send a powerful message to those seeking to spread hate that their time is up. As the first Jewish woman to lead a national party, I would be a strong voice for education on antisemitism where possible, and resistance when necessary—values that I have passed onto my sons, whose voices follow.
Jonas Daniel, age 16:
Last week was the first time I had seen the words “f*cking jew.” The comment named another candidate, but it hit home. Every day, I see my Mom fight for a better future for me and all people in Canada. Whether or not you agree with her politics, you must respect her passion to fight for what she believes is right.
Were she to win, she would be the first Black person and first Jewish woman to lead a major federal party in Canada. That’s important to note, too, because it seems like the more my mother leads, the more resentful people become of her identities.
Malachai Daniel, age 20:
I grew up embracing the Jewish values of generosity, kindness, and respect for others. I have always felt grateful to have been born into a community that has done so much for the betterment of our world. Since day one, I was taught to carry my Jewish identity not as a burden but as a gift.
Despite my upbringing, no amount of preparation readies you for the scale of the antisemitism we have experienced since my mother entered politics. Daily dog whistles and claims of dual loyalty are taxing our wellbeing. Somehow, being Jewish trumps all my mother is doing to help others and gives some people free rein to question her loyalties based on her religion.
I do my best to shield her, as she did for me growing up, but keeping the antisemitism at bay has proved impossible. This has been an awakening for me. There is so much work to be done, and it is why I wholeheartedly believe we need to break the silence.