Newly elected City of Vancouver councillor Sean Orr is under fire over statements he has made that are offensive to two Canadian Jewish groups. Read More
Orr says one comment was made sarcastically, but stands by criticism of Israeli response to Hamas attack
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Newly elected City of Vancouver councillor Sean Orr is under fire over statements he has made that are offensive to two Canadian Jewish groups.
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On Tuesday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs called on Orr to retract a statement made on social media on Aug. 31, 2021 saying “everyone knows Vancouver city planners are controlled by a secret cabal of Jews who have a bunker in the earth’s core fml.”
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The Jewish Federation went on to say: “This statement invokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope alleging Jewish control of political and economic systems that have fuelled discrimination, exclusion and violence against Jews throughout history.”
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The federation also goes on to state that Orr was critical of the Israeli government in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack by Hamas.
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Responding on X, Orr said the now-deleted social media post was intended to be sarcastic and was taken out of context during an exchange with another person on X.
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“In 2021, I sarcastically quoted the comedian David Cross while condemning an antisemitic dogwhistle on Twitter,” Orr wrote. “I was defending Karm Sumal against the claim he was a “globalist shill”. I have been outspoken over the years opposing all forms of racism including antisemitism.
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“It’s unfortunate that this was taken out of context and misrepresented. My platform called out antisemitism by name and committed to fighting it, along with Islamophobia and other forms of racism. I am always willing to listen to people who feel I can do more for their communities.”
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In response to his criticism of the Israeli response to the Hamas attack, Orr said “criticizing the far-right Netanyahu govt for committing war crimes against civilian populations is the right thing to do. Criticizing that is not antisemitism. I agree with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.”
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Orr captured more votes than any of the other candidates in last Saturday’s Vancouver byelection for two vacant seats. Orr was representing the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) in the election.
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On Tuesday night, the group Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver said it supported Orr.
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“We need more elected officials like Sean Orr, leaders with the courage to speak uncomfortable truths, resist the politicized weaponization of antisemitism and uphold universal human rights,” the group’s statement read.
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Also on Tuesday night, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim called a press conference for Wednesday morning accompanied by leaders in Vancouver’s Jewish community “to speak with media amid recent developments of public concern.”
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Late Tuesday, B.C. Opposition leader John Rustad condemned Orr and called for an apology.
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