Winnipeg police are investigating after multiple Stars of David were drawn on a sidewalk outside a West End grocery store owned by a Palestinian-Canadian family.
Co-owner Ramsey Zeid said more than a dozen symbols were scrawled in chalk in front of the Food Fare at 905 Portage Ave., just west of Arlington Street, on Sunday afternoon.
“Absolutely it is (a hate crime). It’s the only way to see it,” he told the Free Press Monday.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Food Fare co-owner Tarik Zeid stands outside the grocery store at 905 Portage Ave., where Stars of David graffiti was still visible on the ground near the building.
“I think the reasons are pretty obvious. I think they’re trying to intimidate us. It’s all about intimidation and silencing us.”
Cellphone video provided by Zeid showed 17 Stars of David — a symbol of Judaism — and a heart which were drawn in white chalk on a section of sidewalk between the store’s front doors and parking lot.
“It wasn’t like it was in the middle of the night. It was early afternoon while we were open,” said Zeid.
Zeid, who is president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, said the graffiti was reported to the Winnipeg Police Service.
Police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said the major crimes unit is investigating.
Video from Food Fare’s surveillance system was given to investigators, said Zeid.
“We’re hoping they identify them and deal with them accordingly,” he said.
The footage, which was shared with the Free Press, showed one person crouching on the sidewalk while they appeared to draw on the pavement. A second person stood nearby and watched, as customers and vehicles passed by.
Zeid, who has organized rallies to protest Israel’s military action in Gaza, said he and members of his family have faced threats and acts of intimidation since the war in the Middle East began a year ago.
“They’re becoming more frequent and they’re being more open about it, because there have been no consequences,” he said. “They’re really putting our family in danger, and our customers in danger.”
On Oct. 19, Zeid gave a statement to police alleging he was assaulted by a man he identified as a pro-Israel counter protester. The alleged assault occurred while the Palestinian association held a rally at Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard.
No one has been charged, said Zeid.
Zeid said he and his family members have increased security at home and at work due to threats.
City police have attended rallies and, at times, increased security or patrols at places of worship in Winnipeg since the Israel-Gaza war began.
There has been an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, police have said.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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