Tag: Racism

AIJAC's Jeremy Jones spoke about the resurgence of antisemitism in Australia and internationally on "Breakfast" with Fiona Parker on ABC Radio Central Victoria. 

In more than one recent case, the perpetrators of violent, even murderous, antisemitic acts have been given legal clemency on the grounds of mental impairment.

For young people navigating the world via social media, hate speech seems to be unavoidable. According to Australia’s Office of the E-Safety Commissioner, more than 50% of young people have seen or heard hateful comments about a cultural or religious group online.

It also should go without saying that there is no place for anti-Jewish activity (or any other form of bigotry) in contemporary Australia. However, out of the many hundreds of millions of interactions between Jewish and non-Jewish Australians each year, some of them involve behaviour which is abhorrent and despicable. 

The reverberations from media reports that two Melbourne students were subjected to humiliating anti-Semitic abuse have been felt in Jewish communities around the world. How could this happen in an enlightened society, ask well-meaning people.

Racism in its many manifestations is, far too often, allowed to be articulated and practised without any response, let alone real consequences.