A professional complaint has been launched against the doctor whose valedictorian speech at the University of Manitoba this month called for a ceasefire in Gaza and referred to Israel’s “deliberate targeting” of Palestinian hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.
In a social media post, the president of the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba said he’s lodged a complaint against Dr. Gem Newman with the office of professionalism at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba.
“Dr. Newman’s words were inappropriate, divisive, and absent of nuanced contextual history, as was his decision to use our collective home at the University of Manitoba as a political apparatus to incite ethnoreligious vilification and advance a prejudiced narrative,” Matthew Bzura wrote. “Freedom of expression does not equate to freedom from consequence.”
Dr. Gem Newman’s valedictorian speech at the University of Manitoba this month called for a ceasefire in Gaza and referred to Israel’s “deliberate targeting” of Palestinian hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.
Bzura, who didn’t respond to requests for an interview, alleges Newman breached various policies related to professional behaviour and social media use during his 10-minute convocation speech on May 16, which was cheered by some members of the audience.
University officials, donors and colleagues have denounced Newman’s speech. Ernest Rady, who donated $30 million to the college in 2016, said the speech contained “hateful lies,” in a letter to U of M. In response to the criticism, U of M president Michael Benarroch said the university would offer additional anti-racism training to students, faculty and staff. The training will be mandatory for students in the Rady faculty of health sciences.
On Tuesday, a statement from Max Rady office of professionalism associate dean Nancy Porhownik said the office investigates issues primarily related to learner mistreatment and will meet with the complainant to “check in on their well-being, collect information and discuss a potential approach.”
Based on the report, resolutions may involve coaching, feedback conversations with the complainant and the respondent, and conflict resolution processes.
Newman declined to be interviewed, instead referring the Free Press to a statement he made last week that reiterated his call for a ceasefire.
“It is, frankly, incredible to me that advocating for a cessation of hostilities is seen as not only controversial, but somehow hateful. I have been, and will continue to be, vocally critical of the state of Israel’s horrifying and disproportionate response to the awful tragedy of Oct. 7,” Newman wrote.
In an update this month, the United Nations estimated more than 35,000 people have died and 79,000 have been injured since Islamist terrorist group Hamas crossed the border into Israel on Oct. 7 and launched multiple attacks against Israeli settlements.
The report says the nature of Israel’s conduct of hostilities raises concerns over compliance with international humanitarian law, while Palestinian armed groups continue to launch “inherently indiscriminate” projectiles into Israel.
Various medical humanitarian groups have called for a ceasefire on the Gaza strip, including Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Meantime, the owner of a pizzeria said bringing attention to Newman’s speech has put a target on his back.
On the weekend, Vera Pizza owner Terik Cabildo posted a snippet online of a statement made by Newman in response to his valedictorian speech.
The message drew responses denouncing the post and calling for a boycott of the eatery on south Osborne Street.
“I had reposted (Newman’s comment) without any personal commentary whatsoever… my gut reaction reminded me of the polarization of COVID-19,” he said Tuesday.
Since then, the restaurant has dealt with negative reviews of its food online and has been accused of antisemitism.
“It’s preposterous,” Cabildo said.
Vera Pizza and other local businesses were targeted in an anonymous online post titled, “Local Jew-hating businesses.”
Restaurateur Elsa Taylor, who owns The Roost, a Corydon Avenue cocktail bar, and Parcel Pizza, Osborne-area pizzeria, was made aware of the post Monday evening.
“It’s frustrating. It’s a hideous distortion of my personal beliefs,” she said Tuesday.
Taylor said she hasn’t used any of her business accounts to make a political statement. She has used her personal page to draw attention to the conflict.
Taylor believes the list is a “disingenuous and bad-faith” attempt to distract from the crisis in Gaza.
“I would hope that list and a couple of loud voices won’t overshadow the very real and pressing need for eyes on Gaza,” she said.
Oh Doughnuts was another business named in the post. Owner Amanda Kinden was subject to criticism in February for calling to free Palestinians from Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
After writing the post, Kinden said an individual went into the shop and berated staff. It had to close for the day out of concern for staff safety.
“I can’t believe being against genocide is considered antisemitic,” she said. “People are dying, so as long as I can be there and represent them, it’s something I should do.”
Kinden supports the comments Newman made during his speech and said she’ll continue to use her platform to bring awareness to the crisis unfolding in the Middle East, just like Newman did, without fear of retribution.
nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca
Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole.
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