UTS investigating alleged hate speech during campus rally
Anti-Zionist Jewish professor Peter Slezak told a pro-Palestinian rally that 'Jews should feel uncomfortable', while pointing to a Jewish student on campus.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is investigating an alleged incident of hate speech directed towards a Jewish student that was made during a pro-Palestine rally on campus on Wednesday.
Anti-Zionist Jewish professor Peter Slezak – who does not work at UTS – addressed the rally and referenced Palestinian activist and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah during his speech.
“I agree with Randa when she says Jews, in particular, should feel uncomfortable and it’s our duty to make them uncomfortable – and that includes the fellow over there,” Slezak said, pointing to Jewish UTS student Daniel Melamed, who was holding an Israeli flag.
Melamed, who had heard Slezak make a similar speech at the University of NSW last year, told The AJN that the students cheered in response.
“I’ve dealt with this so many times that it’s become the norm,” said Melamed.
“It doesn’t get to me anymore because it’s just such a common occurrence.”
Melamed said as soon as he took out his Israeli flag he was immediately asked by police to show them his identity and was told he wasn’t allowed to chant anything as it would ‘breach the peace’. Melamed said he didn’t see police requesting identity documents from anyone carrying a Palestinian flag, while students at the rally were filmed chanting ‘Intifada revolution’.
A UTS spokesperson told The AJN that UTS is aware of concerns raised as a result of Wednesday’s rally.
“Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt has been clear and continues to make very clear to all staff and students, that while UTS supports the right for students and staff to discuss and debate contentious issues, this should not be at the expense of the safety and wellbeing of others,” said the spokesperson.
“The university has zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination. An investigation into comments made at the rally is underway.”
CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) Michele Goldman said the comments captured in the video make it clear that activists are working hard to make Jews uncomfortable on campus.
“That anyone thinks saying this out loud is acceptable demonstrates just how big the problem is on our university campuses,” she said.
“Calls for one group of Australians to target another undermine social cohesion and attack the Australian values we all hold dear. Jewish students and staff have a right to study and work without being harassed and targeted.
Goldman said UTS has been approached to provide urgent advice about why this hate is being allowed to be preached on campus.
“We’ve seen some recent progress on university campuses, but this shows just how much further this needs to go,” said Goldman.
“Jewish students and staff have been living with this kind of hatred for month, they are exhausted. University administrators can’t let this kind of hatred fester like it has in the past and we’ll be expecting UTS to take action quickly.”
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