Second Cup Canada has terminated its contract with a franchisee and closed two café locations at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital after videos surfaced of the franchise owner making antisemitic remarks and gestures during a pro-Palestinian protest. The decision underscores the company’s “zero tolerance for hate speech.”
Incident and Company Response
The controversy arose after videos circulated on social media showing a woman raising her arm in a Nazi salute and making antisemitic remarks, including references to the Holocaust’s “final solution.” The videos were reportedly taken at a protest outside Concordia University on Thursday.
Second Cup Canada, owned by Foodtastic, identified the woman as the franchisee and swiftly served her a termination notice. “We are completely against hate speech and anything that would incite violence,” said Peter Mammas, Foodtastic’s president and CEO. He added that while free expression is important, it must be done respectfully.
The company assured the public that it would retain the affected locations’ staff and continue paying them until the cafés reopen under new management.
Community and Institutional Reactions
The CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, which oversees the Jewish General Hospital, supported Second Cup’s decision, stating it “stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech.”
Henry Topas, Quebec regional director of B’nai Brith Canada, criticized Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante for tolerating what he described as “continual hateful protests.” He linked the incident to broader tensions, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s support for the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he argued fosters “a horrendous atmosphere.”
Protests and Escalating Tensions
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in Montreal following a surge of protests. Thursday’s rally, where the videos were filmed, involved students calling for divestment from companies tied to Israel and criticizing the federal government’s stance on the war in Gaza.
On Friday, related protests turned violent, with demonstrators clashing with police, lighting vehicles on fire, and breaking windows. Politicians widely condemned the violence as acts of antisemitism, though some organizers refuted these claims, arguing their protests targeted Israeli policies, not Jewish communities.
Police Investigation
As of Saturday, Montreal police reported no formal complaints of antisemitic acts or hate crimes connected to the demonstrations. However, the videos have sparked outrage and calls for greater accountability for hateful actions during protests.
Second Cup’s decisive action to address the incident highlights the growing need for businesses and institutions to take firm stances against hate speech, particularly in politically charged environments.
