TORONTO (November 10,2017)- FSWC condemns the hateful graffiti, which included a swastika and “HeilHitler,” that was discovered yesterday on a hallway blackboard at theUniversity of British Columbia.

A photo of the graffiti was posted on the Facebook page of HillelBC, who reported it to campus security. This incident coincided with theanniversary of Kristallnacht – a two-day anti-Jewish pogrom in Nazi Germanythat took place November 9-10, 1938. Thousands of synagogues and Jewish homesand businesses were destroyed, dozens of Jews were killed, and tens ofthousands were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

“University campuses should be a safe space for students to learn,but they have increasingly become a space for individuals and groups to expresstheir antisemitic and racist views,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo.“As we commemorate Kristallnacht and the Jewish civilians who were directlyaffected by this horrific moment in history, this graffiti is a painfulreminder that antisemitism still exists in our communities and that we mustcontinue to stand up against it.”

Police are reportedly investigating the incident and said moresurveillance will be given to the area.

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MediaContact:

Avital Borisovsky 
Communications Associate   
416.864.9735 x 29
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

Follow us onTwitter at @CanadianFSWCfor 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

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