|
Trending Topics
|
Trailblazing Canadian Cyclist Removed from Ottawa International Women's Day Event over Past IDF Service
(JTA) Jennifer Lovy - Leah Goldstein, 54, a Canadian cyclist who was the first woman to win the grueling 3,000-mile Race Across America in 2021, had been invited to be the keynote speaker at an International Women's Day event in Ontario, Canada, in March. However, in January, Goldstein was told the invitation had been rescinded due to an "extremely vocal group" that took issue with Goldstein's service three decades ago in the Israeli army. Heather Doughty, founder of the INSPIRE group, the event's organizers, said: "We're just this tiny little not-for-profit that is trying to do a nice thing, and we were literally attacked. We had speakers [from INSPIRE] verbally attacked. They went to do their grocery shopping, and people came up and were attacking them." Goldstein called INSPIRE's request that she issue a statement "ridiculous." "If I were to make a statement, I would say that I'm very proud of my training with the IDF, being the first woman to train the commando soldiers. If they want that kind of statement, I'd be happy to say it. But to dis Israel and say, it's genocide...it's a freaking war. That's what happens."