TORONTO (September 7, 2017) - For the second time in a week, the antisemitic phrase 'Hitler wasright' has been spray-painted on Highway 400 in York Region - this time on theAurora Road overpass, according to York Regional Police. Friends of SimonWiesenthal Center (FSWC) was notified of the graffiti this morning and condemnsthis act of hate.
Similar graffiti was discovered less than a week ago on Highway400 in Vaughan. York Regional Police told FSWC that the graffiti has beencovered up and the crime scene secured as the hate crime investigationcontinues.
"It is disheartening to see this type of hateful messagespreading across the region," said Avi Benlolo, FSWC President and CEO."I commend the police for once again taking quick action and continuingtheir investigation to find the individual involved in this hate crime."
The graffiti was sprayed in the vicinity of a public school andwas visible to thousands of commuters.
FSWC is calling on the Premier of Ontario to take action againstantisemitism and support the organization's social action programs. Through itspetition, FSWC is asking the government to be more forceful in pressing chargesagainst hate crimes.
Stand up to hate by signing FSWC's petition: www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/petition.
FSWC is also asking the public to provide any information to York Regional Police by calling 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7100.
For more information, 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
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.
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