‘Product of unchecked racism’: Mount Scopus graffitied, Jewish families keep schoolkids home
The principal of a Jewish school that was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti has said his students are “experiencing something that is almost reminiscent” of what their ancestors faced.
Victoria
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Mount Scopus Principal Dan Sztrajt says a number of Jewish families have chosen to keep their children at home after the school’s fence was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.
On Monday morning, Mr Sztrajt met with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, member for McNamara Josh Burns and member for Chisholm Carina Garland, two days after the phrase “Jew die” was spray painted on the Burwood campuses front fence.
Mr Sztrajt said it is important to note that the graffiti did not happen in “isolation”, but rather amid an “incredible rise” in anti-Semitism across the country.
“What happened outside the front gate is a product of unchecked racism, unchecked anti-Semitism directed towards this community,” he said.
“There are a lot of schools here who are feeling as though the community out there does not want them.”
Mr Sztrajt said the Jewish community and his students are “experiencing something that is almost reminiscent” of what their ancestors experienced “when anti-Semitism is left unchecked”.
The school principal said year 12 students are being forced to consider what universities are the safest options amid fears pro-Palestine demonstrations at universities across the country could make their way into schools.
“I can tell you right now, their families are not choosing what university is best for their interest or best for their learning style, they are selecting their universities… based on which campuses are safe for Jews to be on.”
Following the “appalling act of anti-Semitism” at the campus in Melbourne’s east, Mr Marles said the Labor Government had made it “absolutely plain”, there is “no place for anti-Semitism”.
“It is absolutely critical that in this moment, that Jewish and non Jewish Australians are standing up against anti-Semitism,” he said.
“The levels of anti-Semitism that we have seen in the past few months, are more than any that I’ve seen during my lifetime, and it must stop.”
Mr Marles’ comments come amid the federal government’s planned reforms to hate speech laws, which will enforce criminal penalties for serious cases of vilification against an individual on the basis of sexuality, gender, race and religion.
“The legislation that is being progressed at the moment is an important step. It is important that we get this right, there are nuances in all of this which really does matter,” he said.
“We will be working through that process and we want to be thorough in the way in which we do it, but we do want to do this with a sense of pace.
“We need to have these laws in place as quickly as we can, without obviously compromising the thorough consultation which needs to be undertaken.”
Mount Scopus has since repainted the front fence and as students arrived on campus on Monday morning, they were greeted with Israeli and Australian flags hung across the fence.
Mr Sztrajt said the school is working alongside Victoria Police to catch those involved in the incident, who were captured on school CCTV cameras committing the offence.
In a statement released on Monday, Victoria Police confirmed authorities have been conducting regular patrols of the areas surrounding the school following the incident.
“Investigators have been in regular communication with the college since a report was made to police and understand that this incident has been extremely difficult for the school community. There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic sentiments or behaviour,” police said.
“Victoria Police takes any reports of racial or religious based crime extremely seriously.”
No arrests have been made and investigations remain ongoing.
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