Rebel News admits it owns truck displaying anti-Muslim ads

Posted June 20, 2024 2:56 pm.

Last Updated June 20, 2024 7:59 pm.

Rebel News has come forward to claim ownership of the controversial truck that’s been spotted driving around Toronto displaying anti-Muslim messaging.

In a post on its website, the right-wing media outlet wrote: “The Toronto police are officially investigating Rebel News for running these ads by local community activists on our Rebel News billboard truck.”

“The ads were created by a group called Canadians Opposed to the Occupation of our Streets and Campuses.”

The ads, which have sparked widespread condemnation and a Toronto Police Hate Crime investigation depict Muslims kneeling in prayer on city streets, with text that reads: “Is this Yemen? Is this Syria? Is this Iraq?”

“No. This is Canada. Wake up Canada. You are under siege.”

In a video posted on X, Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant portrayed the issue as a “censorship battle” and a fight against cancel culture.

Levant argued that the “ads just show actual footage of what the pro-Hamas gangs are doing to Toronto — including committing real crimes ignored by the police and politicians. In the case of this particular ad, the images included pro-Hamas gangs shutting down the streets in downtown Toronto.”

“Toronto police don’t think the pro-Hamas street gangs themselves are committing hate crimes. They think the ad we ran on our truck is a hate crime,” he stressed.

Levant added that if convicted of hate speech he could face up to two years behind bars.

Toronto Police have not announced any charges in the matter, but said its Hate Crime Unit has launched an investigation.

“We encourage anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the truck or have video footage or images, to please contact police and make a report,” Toronto police said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was among political leaders who spoke out about the ads, telling CityNews on Thursday that he was “deeply alarmed” by the vehicle’s messaging.

“In general we are seeing a really alarming and disturbing rise in hate targeting people for their religion, for their country of origin, for who they are. This is a problem. This is something we’ve got to take very seriously.”

“We should build a country that’s safe for everyone to be able to live their lives and contribute freely and this is an example of that increasing hate that I’m really worried about,” he said.