Censorship at the Jewish Public Library of Montreal | A potato on the index finger

A potato on a bike, an illustrated book by bestselling author Elise Gravel, tells the story of a potato on a bicycle, a broccoli that knows how to count, and a fly that talks on the telephone. It is a book reflecting his work, which is extremely popular with young readers, full of humor, wit and humanity. Elise Gravel, the citizen, is a progressive who denounces injustices. Also, she has expressed a lot of compassion recently for the children of Gaza.

More than 5,000 children have died in Gaza over the past four months. Some 11,000 Gazan children were injured, more than 17,000 children are separated from their parents and thousands more are missing according to UNICEF, which recalled on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip is “the most dangerous place in the world for a child”.

Elise Gravel writes books for children. It makes sense that she has empathy for the child victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including of course the 36 children murdered by Hamas on October 7. She obviously denounces on social networks, where she has tens of thousands of subscribers, the massacre of thousands of Palestinian children by the Israeli army. This award-winning author is an excellent popularizer. It does essential work of popular education, particularly on the situation in Gaza, where the dehumanization of the Palestinian people has reached staggering levels.

The Jewish Public Library of Montreal has just put A potato on a bike as well as around thirty books by Elise Gravel in the index. This would be a decision by its new general director, Alain Dancyger, who was at the head of the Grands Ballets Canadiens (GBC) for 22 years.

For what ? Because Elise Gravel sympathizes with the misfortune of the Palestinians? Because she is attacking Benyamin Netanyahu’s right-wing and far-right coalition government? Because pro-Israeli activists accuse him of anti-Semitism?

Many, particularly among Israeli progressives, believe that through its violence, the current Israeli government is fueling anti-Semitism. Others seem to confuse criticism of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism, an accusation that is made far too easily and lightly these days. However, there is no shortage of opportunities to denounce real anti-Semitism, which is on the rise.

Elise Gravel recognizes that certain drawings that she has published in recent months on social networks may have seemed equivocal or based on information whose veracity has not been demonstrated. In one of them, which she later removed, she cited, for example, one of her subscribers who claimed that “Israel has the largest skin bank in the world, harvested from Palestinians”, an assertion that she later called herself “problematic.” She says she was open to comments from her readers and quick to correct the situation. “Sometimes, if someone makes a relevant comment, I edit my posts to clarify,” she says.

The Jewish Public Library of Montreal (BPJ), located in the Côte-des-Neiges district, has nevertheless decided to remove all of Elise Gravel’s books, in English and in French, from its shelves. Even if she considers them “objectively harmless”, humorous and educational. “All of his work that the BPJ holds to this day will always be accessible, upon request,” said a spokesperson in a press release. This approach reflects our commitment to responding to the different concerns and sensitivities of the community while allowing access to a diversity of perspectives. » The general director, Alain Dancyger, however, never responded to our interview request. We’ll come back for the dialogue.

To now have access to Elise Gravel’s books at the BPJ, you will have to make a specific request to a librarian at the counter. As with the razor blades at the pharmacy… However, in works such as The worst book in the world, Welcome to the monster shop Or I’m terrible, not the slightest reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to colonization, to contempt of UN resolutions, to the notions of apartheid or genocide. “My books absolutely do not address the adult subjects that I discuss on social networks,” Elise Gravel explains to me in an interview.

Who would have thought that in Quebec in 2024, we would put books on the index, like in the time of Duplessis and the Great Darkness?

In 2010, when he was at the head of the GBC, Alain Dancyger himself denounced what he said was a form of censorship on the part of the conservative government of Stephen Harper, which had slashed the programs of assistance with foreign tours.

That a public library, which should be a sanctuary of freedom of expression, could make such a decision is not only absurd, but unacceptable, scandalous and revolting. However, in a column published Tuesday in The Suburban, an English-language weekly from the west of Montreal, Côte-Saint-Luc municipal councilor Mike Cohen wanted “other libraries to follow suit.” Just that.

“It has no place in a public library,” confirms Ève Lagacé, general director of the Association of Public Libraries of Quebec, of which the Jewish Public Library of Montreal is not a member. Although withdrawal requests from citizens are very frequent in public libraries in Quebec, mainly for ideological reasons (gender diversity, for example) or historical revisionism, it is extremely rare for a library to be withdrawn. work of the rays.

“We are really quite fierce guardians of intellectual freedom. We are really against censorship,” recalls Ève Lagacé, for whom it is essential not to conflate the author and the work, which has clearly not been done by the BPJ. “Here, the distinction is easy to make,” she says rightly.

A smear campaign

The blacklisting of her books is the culmination of a campaign of harassment, intimidation and denigration of Elise Gravel on social networks. “The insults I receive are unimaginable,” she said. Because I support a ceasefire in Gaza, I am called a pedophile, an accomplice to rape and terrorism. I was told I would have to be electrocuted. Parents told me they had to explain to their children why their favorite author wanted them to die in a gas chamber. But it’s me who’s dangerous, it seems…”

Despite the torrent of hatred that overwhelms her – she has even received death threats – Elise Gravel persists and signs. There is no question of her being silenced because she courageously dares to express her opinions. She is supported by many peace activists with whom she collaborates, notably those from the organization Independent Jewish Voices Canada, who like her have been subjected to incessant volleys of insults for months. “Simply because they show compassion for Gaza,” she laments.

It was not only at the Jewish Public Library of Montreal that there was pressure to harm the reputation and career of Elise Gravel. The author and illustrator is also the subject of a “cancellation” campaign, from pro-Israeli activists who are demanding that her publishers lose their contracts. This is nothing more and nothing less than a call for censorship of artistic works. Elise Gravel knows a lot about this subject, having seen one of her books, on gender stereotypes, banned in several states in the southern United States after a boycott campaign.

Contrary to popular belief, ban culture is a much more widespread phenomenon among conservatives than among progressives. You only have to take a trip to a Florida library to be convinced of this.

That such censorship is intruding into a Quebec library should worry us all. We are importing into our country the methods of the American identity right to attack the freedom of expression of artists. Elise Gravel has noticed this shift for some time, particularly with anti-trans activists. “It works,” she said. It silences voices. »

According to the adage, when you want to drown your dog, you say he has rabies. When we want to silence criticism of Israel’s policies, we say that it is anti-Semitic. “It’s defamation. These are serious accusations that I do not accept. I will act accordingly,” Elise Gravel, who is represented by lawyer Julius Grey, tells me.

The artist will not allow himself to be muzzled. And she is right. As Élie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1986, said: “I have sworn to never remain silent when human beings endure suffering and humiliation, anywhere. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. »