Statement on Baraboo High School Photo
We are alarmed by the disturbing display of anti-Semitism by a group of Baraboo High School students.
We are alarmed by the disturbing display of anti-Semitism by a group of Baraboo High School students. Though the incident apparently took place last May, it reflects a rising swell of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry. We are particularly concerned with the prevalence of bigotry within schools; more than 25 percent of all the recorded anti-Semitic incidents in Wisconsin last year took place among students or on campus. We have witnessed numerous egregious incidents targeting African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups.
We appreciate the school district’s comment and look forward to working with them to prevent any future such incidents. As we know, acts of hate begin with hateful expressions. Such expressions must be a call to action for schools and families to educate youth to respect diversity and to embrace difference. The values that will hold us together must be taught and reinforced, lest we see the continued rise of hate and its consequences.
Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation
Jewish Federation of Madison
Wisconsin Jewish Conference
ADL Midwest
Congregation Emanu El B’ne Jeshurun Social Action Committee
Congregation Shalom
Congregation Sinai
Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA, The Rev. Paul D. Erickson, Bishop
Just Be Hope United Methodist Center, Rev. Deborah Thompson
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Wisconsin
MA’RUF — Aamer Ahmed, President
Masjid Al Qur’an Milwaukee, Hafiz Muhammad Shafique
Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, Rev. Tory V. Topjian, Senior Pastor
Milwaukee Zen Center, Rev. Tonen O’Connor, Resident Priest Emerita
Milwaukee Islamic Dawah Center
The Spark Wisconsin, Rabbi Moishe Steigmann
Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ, Rev. Franz Rigert, Conference Minister
Underwood Memorial Baptist Church, Rev. Kate Fields, Pastor
University of Wisconsin Hillel Foundation
Wisconsin Council of Churches, Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Rabbi Bonnie Margolis
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
Rabbi Mordechai Cohen, Director of Religious Programming, Park Plaza Retirement Center, Chicago
Rev. Dr. Steven Hecky, United Church of Christ – Wisconsin
Rev. Erik Koepnick
Tim McMurtry II, Associate Pastor, World Outreach Center and State Director, Christians United for Israel – Wisconsin
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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