A group of men stormed a school bus and hurled antisemitic threats against a 12-year-old boy at Chicago’s West Rogers Park in the 2800 block of Jerome Street. Police said the bus had been dropping off elementary students from a nearby Orthodox Jewish school Wednesday about 5 p.m. when the men jumped on board and engaged in menacing behavior, although no one was injured, reported the Chicago Tribune. “At one stop, four men jumped into the bus, hurled antisemitic slurs, and performed the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute at terrorized children,” said Alison Pure Slovin, a spokesperson from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in a statement. The men singled out one boy in particular and threatened to hurt him before taking off.
via rawstory: Men jump onto Chicago school bus and make Nazi threats against Jewish students
Updated Statement From the Simon Wiesenthal Center – Based on first reports, there were initial concerns this was an anti-Semitic incident, there was much confusion around the story as it unfolded. As the Simon Wiesenthal Center reviewed the facts as they emerged, it became clear that an incident occurred related to the bus as was confirmed by the Chicago police department. But, it is now clear that the incident was not anti-Semitic as first reported. The Simon Wiesenthal Center agrees with that conclusion following the review of facts that emerged and after speaking to the school’s principal and other Jewish organizations. :: UPDATE – NOVEMBER 11, 2022 – 9:00am PT :: When the Simon Wiesenthal Center went to press with the story and released the statement below, this was verified by two parents who filed police reports based on what their sons had experienced. In addition, the SWC spoke to two detectives and an officer in the police department who were investigating the students allegations. We were told this was a hate crime. Later in the day, the school released a statement refuting what the children had reported. The school is now saying that this was not an anti-Semitic incident.
2 Comments
Esther G. · November 12, 2022 at 2:55 am
Is there a description of these men?
dokmz · November 13, 2022 at 12:44 pm
Not afaik. But there’s an updated statement from SWC:
Updated Statement From the Simon Wiesenthal Center – NOVEMBER 11, 2022 – 1:30pm PT ::
Based on first reports, there were initial concerns this was an anti-Semitic incident, there was much confusion around the story as it unfolded. As the Simon Wiesenthal Center reviewed the facts as they emerged, it became clear that an incident occurred related to the bus as was confirmed by the Chicago police department.
But, it is now clear that the incident was not anti-Semitic as first reported. The Simon Wiesenthal Center agrees with that conclusion following the review of facts that emerged and after speaking to the school’s principal and other Jewish organizations.
https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/anti-semitic-hate-crime.html
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