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Metro News national columnist Vicky Mochama went even further, stating “journalists, editors and pundits continue to conflate community advocacy with extremist violence. It is dangerous and racist.”

But neither Hundal nor Mochama can point to any concrete examples of Canadian journalists conflating peaceful Sikhs with those calling for violence. The only times these two groups have been lumped together is when they literally share a stage, or when activists claim to be peaceful, while simultaneously promoting images of militants and murderers.

As for the claim of “guilt-by-association” against Jagmeet Singh: welcome to politics.

Voters have every right to judge politicians by the company they keep. It’s not only reasonable, it’s necessary. We need to know who will be close to power if a politician wins an election. Who will be advising them, who will they appoint to key government positions?

Jagmeet Singh isn’t being mistreated. In fact, he’s getting the kid-glove treatment because journalists are worried they’ll be called racist if they question his relationship with extremists.

For comparison, look at the treatment of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and repeated attempts in the media to tie him to right-wing extremism.

Last summer, a reporter for Rebel Media went to an alt-right rally in Charlottesville, Va. ― a rally that featured neo-Nazis and white supremacists. The reporter, Faith Goldy, went against the wishes of her editor at the Rebel, and was consequently fired from the start-up media organization.