TORONTO (August 21, 2017) – Friends of Simon WiesenthalCenter (FSWC) condemns the antisemitic and racist graffiti that was discoveredat three schools in Markham over the weekend.

“We have seen Ontario schools become the targets of numerousantisemitic graffiti attacks this year, and this antisemitic messaging is oftencombined with messaging inspired by the white supremacist movement.” said FSWCPresident and CEO Avi Benlolo.

FSWC has reached out to York Regional Policeand learned that police are treating the graffiti as a hate crime.

“We commend the police for quickly taking action andtreating the graffiti as a serious crime as they search for suspects,” saidBenlolo.

Graffiti included the Star of David being equated to the swastika, reference to the KKK and the message “White Power.”

Through educational programs such as the Tour for Humanity –a state-of-the-art mobile human rights centre – FSWC works on inspiring students,educators and community leaders to raise their voices against hate andintolerance and stand up for justice and human rights.

To arrange an interview with Avi Benlolo, please contact:

Atara Cadesky  
Communications Associate 
416.864.9735 x 30  
acadesky@fswc.ca

Avital Borisovsky  
Communications Associate    
416.864.9735 x 30  
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

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Follow us on Twitter at @CanadianFSWC for latest news and organization updates.

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

Canadian Headquarters: Toronto 

Branches: Los Angeles • New York • Chicago • Paris • Buenos Aires • Israel