An anti-Israel activist interrupted Shopify president Harley Finkelstein during a Startupfest fireside chat in Montreal with UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. The protester shouted accusations about Gaza before the crowd drowned him out with boos and security removed him. Finkelstein called the disruption "antisemitism. Pure and simple," noting it was the third time in two years he had been targeted at a public event.
Harley Finkelstein, the Jewish president of e-commerce giant Shopify, was targeted by an anti-Israel activist during a Startupfest fireside chat in Montreal on Thursday evening. The discussion, focused on entrepreneurship, was interrupted when a protester shouted accusations about Gaza. The crowd responded with boos, and security escorted the individual out of the venue.
Finkelstein, who was speaking alongside UFC legend Georges St-Pierre, addressed the disruption directly afterward, calling it "antisemitism. Pure and simple." He noted this was the third time in two years he had been targeted at a public event. His message after the incident: "Hate got escorted out. We got right back to building."
The incident follows a pattern of anti-Israel activists targeting Jewish public figures at non-political events. As The Zioneer has reported, similar disruptions have occurred at venues ranging from San Francisco's Trans March to Brooklyn coffee shops, often targeting individuals who are Jewish or perceived as insufficiently critical of Israel. Finkelstein's response — returning to the business discussion — reflects a broader approach among Jewish executives who refuse to let political protests derail their professional engagements.
- StrongSenator Scott Wiener physically confronted and removed from San Francisco Trans March over Israel stance
- DevelopingIsraeli disability leader confronts UN over blacklisting, decries 'total collapse of moral clarity'
- DevelopingShufersal summons guard who barred woman over attire
- DevelopingNYC mayoral candidate Mamdani campaigns with Hamas-apologist influencer
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake