Jewish student subjected to Nazi taunts in Tasmanian school
Students at a Tasmanian school have subjected a Jewish classmate to an online hate campaign featuring Nazi salutes and taunts about the Holocaust. *WARNING: Graphic language
Tasmania
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STUDENTS at a northern Tasmanian school have subjected a Jewish classmate to an online hate campaign featuring Nazi salutes and taunts about the Holocaust.
Among a series of Snapchat messages sent to the year 11 student is a photo of a student giving what appears to be a Nazi salute and messages including:
* “Hitler did so much good. I wish he was the leader. F … Jews gas them all. Trump 2022.”
* “Where’s ur striped pyjamas”
* “I am apart (sic) of the KKK. Hitler will rape UR sead (sic) grandma”
* “We love Neo Nazis”
The incident comes amid a rise in anti-Semitism nationwide with reports of Jewish students being bullied and subject to Nazi taunts in New South Wales and Victoria.
Six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime in a state-sponsored campaign of genocide during the Second World War.
Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich was approached by the victim about the abuse.
“This horrific and unsettling story of antisemitic harassment should break the heart of every Jewish parent who will wonder what is happening in Tasmanian schools and whether it is safe to send their kids every morning to class,” he said.
“Clearly, for some Jewish students, attending a public school is nothing short of a nightmare, and I fear that such a hostile environment and the proliferation and cumulative effect of the Holocaust taunts, intimidation and harassment will lead to suicide.
“Schools are supposed to provide an inclusive and nurturing environment in which our young people can learn free from religious and racial harassment — that is unless you are Jewish. “ “We know that there is a whole underbelly of antisemitism taking place in Australian schools with too many Jewish students feeling that they are outsiders and don’t belong.
“This is unacceptable and cannot stand. I call on the school and the state government to effectively take steps to tackle and combat this epidemic of bigotry and racism.”
A Department of Education spokesman said the matter had not yet been reported to the school.
“We strongly encourage these matters to be reported so that they can be investigated accordingly by schools so that appropriate support can be provided,” he said.
“Providing safe learning environments in our government schools is a priority, as every student deserves to go to school and feel safe. Bullying in schools is completely unacceptable and the vilification of anyone is treated very seriously.
“All schools are implementing programs, policies, procedures and support networks to reduce the impact and occurrence of bullying and violent behaviour, with clearly documented processes and supports in place to manage such behaviour.
“All allegations of inappropriate behaviour are immediately investigated in accordance with relevant departmental policies and procedures such as the Department’s Respectful Student Behaviour Policy.”
The federal government last year pledged $2m for a Holocaust museum and memorial in Tasmania and the state government has joined a national push to ban the display of Nazi symbols.
Dr Abramovich said there was a disturbing trend apparent nationwide.
“The day is not too far off when young people will have to hide their Jewish faith so as not to be targeted and vilified by their classmates and when public schools will be no-go zones for Jewish students,” he said.
“Those young people who engaged in this Holocaust abuse and victimisation do not have the excuse that they were too young to know better, and this unsettling episode is another blow to any trust Jewish parents may have had in a system which keeps falling short.”
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