Toronto art workers' group plans Oct. 22 Wikipedia edit-a-thon on Palestinian artists

Right · 2A Canadian group of art workers is holding a Wikipedia editing event on Oct. 22. The group's stated aim is to "populate Wikipedia entries honouring martyred Palestinian artists and exposing the Canadian, Zionist backers of genocide." 1 2 Right · 2The National Post names the group Stop Art Washing and the Jerusalem Post names it Artists Against Artwashing. Both quote the same self-description: art workers "across so-called-Canada demanding cultural institutions divest from settler colonialism and genocide." 1 2 Right · 2According to the National Post, which cites the group's Instagram account, the event is a "Wikipedia 101 session" with "hands-on editing" in Toronto at an undisclosed location. The Jerusalem Post adds that the evening opens with Palestinian short films. 1 2

Right · 2Both outlets say the event conflicts with Wikipedia's neutrality rules. The National Post cites the policy against using the site as "a soapbox, a battleground, or a vehicle for propaganda" and the requirement of a neutral point of view. The Jerusalem Post says that organising sessions around a predetermined political aim risks undermining the Neutral Point of View policy. 1 2 Right · 2Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger told the Jerusalem Post that organising people to take a controversial point of view is "canvassing [and] they should be blocked." The National Post said Wikipedia did not respond to its request for comment. 2 1 Right · 1The Jerusalem Post, which says Jewish Onliner reported the event first and that it confirmed the event independently, reports that the group held an earlier workshop in April targeting articles tied to the Azrieli Foundation. It says edits to the Azrieli Group article were made on April 28 at the time of that workshop, including by a newly registered account that made one edit. It says another account was warned in June about edit warring. The article does not say the edits were made by workshop participants. 2

Right · 2Both outlets set the event in a wider debate over Wikipedia's coverage of Israel and the conflict. The National Post cites Jimmy Wales calling the "Gaza genocide" entry "one of the worst Wikipedia entries" he had seen, and its own 2024 analysis finding "patterns of anti-Israel bias among power-user editors". The Jerusalem Post cites a new Anti-Defamation League report, "Damage Done", and describes training programmes such as Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor's "WikiRights" in Gaza. 1 2 Right · 1The National Post also notes that Wikipedia's own page on the topic says edits on the conflict have surged since Oct. 7, 2023, and that its coverage has drawn criticism from "advocates on both sides for perceived bias." It says the Times of Israel reported a similar event in London in 2024. The group's own comment is not included in either report. 1