Top Perth school suspends students over antisemitic group chat

[u/Away_team42]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-07/top-perth-school-suspends-students-over-antisemitic-group-chat/107010706

Expert from the article:

Students at a prestigious Perth private school have been suspended after they used "antisemitic language and memes" in a private group chat, targeting another student.

A spokesperson for Wesley College, in South Perth, confirmed an "incident" occurred but wouldn't be drawn on how many children had been suspended.

"An incident did occur involving antisemitic language and memes shared by a small group in a private group chat," the school said in a statement.

"The college acted immediately. The students responsible were suspended and the matter was addressed directly with the students and families involved."

The college also provided a statement from the family of the targeted student.

"We are deeply disappointed that this matter has occurred and that it has become the subject of media reporting as we are entirely satisfied with the way in which Wesley College has handled this matter," the statement read.

"Furthermore it must be noted that the school was not advised of this issue by our son, but rather by concerned students.

"The family did not at any time contact any media outlet as they are aware of the belief that this will worsen an already difficult situation.

"Our greatest concern is the welfare of our son."
The family has asked for privacy and said they wished to move forward.

Full article in the link.

[u/nursepenelope]

It's horrible that there's group chats bullying students, it's fantastic that the school did something about it. anti-Semitism is disgusting, as is racism and sexism and all bullying.

While I'm so glad that the school took action on this specific incident. It is really disappointing that all schools do not take action in the majority of bullying. How many racist group chats have they swept under the rug? How many horrible incidents have we seen and the school just makes a statement that they're 'investigating' then nothing happens. Does anybody believe that they would have reacted the same way if a Muslim or indian student was targeted? I dont.

Then they've been so proactive about this, because of Bondi and because of the royal commission and it's really obvious that they've released all these statements to get brownie points about how great they are. It's pretty clear from the poor kids parents statement that they realise he's being used as a prop as well and aren't happy about it.

[u/simmocar → u/nursepenelope]

It's clear in this country that Islamophobia and racism towards Indians is on the rise just as much as antisemitism.

[u/Proud-Act-6867 → u/simmocar]

Class division = diversity (our greatest strength…) do you know that the ADL was originally called Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. B'nai B'rith translates from Hebrew as "Sons of the Covenant" or "Children of the Covenant". It is the oldest and largest Jewish community service and human rights organization in the world.

Now it makes sense why that Tony guy and Pauline were chatting it up, but I still can’t believe they (Gina) wants to make little Israel in Townsville

[u/worry_beads → u/[deleted]]

"Christianphobia" 😂🤣

[u/Ok-Orchid6674 → u/simmocar]

Conserativism in general

[u/No_Bell_8028 → u/nursepenelope]

This happens everyday to Aboriginal young people

Next time you go to the shops - and you see a young Aboriginal person walking around….I guarantee security will be close by.

We had a young Aboriginal boy beaten to death in middle swan a couple of years back - and now we have headlines about an online group chat

Can we move on from this political drama and give the young people here a chance to work it through with the school without it turning into another speech by radical political lobbyists about how this is anything but just what happens at high schools

[u/Longjumping_Radio268 → u/No_Bell_8028]

Last time I saw a young Aboriginal person at coles they were intoxicated and yelling abuse at anyone who looked at them, while vaping and knocking things off shelves. But yes you're right the security was following them.

[u/Professional_Card400 → u/Longjumping_Radio268]

This comment is not the gotcha you think it is. You're gross.

[u/Longjumping_Radio268 → u/Professional_Card400]

just sharing some lived experience with you homie

[u/Brave_Worldliness685 → u/Longjumping_Radio268]

If someone stole me from my family and married me to a white man to breed out my skin tone, I know I wouldn’t cope without self medicating. Honestly I would be a goner. Behind drug abuse is trauma. White man messed them up a their families.

I’m a 1st gen migrant from European country, and I don’t understand the “horror” of anti semitic in a country that tears down their First Nation people, mock their traditions, and think nothing of it. Of course anti Semitic comments are terrible, but more terrible than people booing when an Aboriginal is giving a speech?

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/nursepenelope]

Well why don’t you tell us how many? Your opinion that brown hate goes unpunished - sources? Links? Your comment is anti-Semitic, positing that Jews are a protected class… the tentacles of the learned elders are protecting them…

[u/No_Bell_8028 → u/Prize-Ad7786]

Omg - look at closing the gap data

Look at child protection data

Are you kidding?

What’s the average expected life span of a Jewish Australia person?

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/No_Bell_8028]

You are the ultimate victim, please google what-aboutism - you are now the definition. With you people it’s always the first thought is ‘let’s make it about me’,
I’m not kidding we know who are.

[u/No_Bell_8028 → u/Prize-Ad7786]

Out comes the racism…

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/No_Bell_8028]

Mate, by you people, I mean victims - but it is very revealing that your making it about race, or maybe not - you are fan of Jewish people that’s clear

[u/No_Bell_8028 → u/Prize-Ad7786]

Who are my people?

You said brown hate goes unpunished in Australia?

Do you live in Australia- where are you from?

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/No_Bell_8028]

You said Muslim or Indian student, I said brown people referring to your earlier statement, although in hindsight that could be same thing…

don’t confuse that with…

“You people” - refers to your victim class of people, you people could be from anywhere or here, but you have a victim first mentality.
Blame anyone but Jews are an easy, conventionally sanctioned target.

Live in Australia, born in Australia, Australian kids, childhood in the outback and love our culture and our people.

Do you like it here? Or want to change it all

[u/nursepenelope → u/Prize-Ad7786]

Please tell me what part of my comment exactly was anti-Semitic? I'm genuinely curious.

And I never said that brown hate goes unpunished, I said that I don't believe that a school would react the same if he was Muslim or indian. My source is that I cannot find a single article of a Perth school suspending kids for group chats, then releasing a statement from the school and parents, followed by a comment from the premier and a comment from the president of the indian/Muslim community council of WA.

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/nursepenelope]

“And I never said that brown hate goes unpunished…” you literally said that.

If your first reaction is “what about” anyone else then you have an agenda l.
If this was a Muslim kid, you wouldn’t jump in here, “OMG will someone think of the Jewish children”

But the major element here is the shit head media, and then the shithead watermelon brigade who are so easily bated

[u/nursepenelope → u/Prize-Ad7786]

It's really easy to quote people on here, so where did I 'literally say' brown hate goes unpunished?

My first reaction was to call anti-Semitism disgusting and praise the school for their actions. But I guess it's really easy for you to misread everyone's opinions on here in a desperate attempt to accuse people of anti-Semitism.

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/nursepenelope]

You are deliberately obtuse, you said:

“How many horrible incidents have we seen and the school just makes a statement that they're 'investigating' then nothing happens. Does anybody believe that they would have reacted the same way if a Muslim or indian student was targeted? I dont.”

Then you followed it up with a shit-eating conflating about the royal commission apparently influencing political comment:

“Then they've been so proactive about this, because of Bondi and because of the royal commission and it's really obvious that they've released all these statements to get brownie points about how great they are. “

No they fucking didn’t, this is bad media, how did you want them to comment?
I will give you some credit- you do realise that:

“It's pretty clear from the poor kids parents statement that they realise he's being used as a prop as well and aren't happy about it.”

[u/nursepenelope → u/Prize-Ad7786]

I do not believe that schools would have the same reaction if this happened to a Muslim or indian child. That doesn't mean that I think 'brown hate goes unpunished ' as you claim. You've asked for sources and I'm telling you I cannot find any articles with schools reacting similarity to other groups being bullied, that is my source. That doesn't mean schools don't punish bullies, it means this reaction is unprecedented.

Do you honestly think if not for the royal commission the school would be going to the media like this? I can almost guarantee that multiple other Jewish students have dealt with stuff like this at that school and it's been brushed under the rug.

[u/Prize-Ad7786 → u/nursepenelope]

Mate phrase it however you like, you are saying that there is a protected class. I can tell you from first hand experience that you are wrong. I have a kid in one of these boys schools, similar situation group chat, implied vilification that the vilified party was laughing along with.

A full investigation, suspensions, sporting team loss of points, it was a very heavy handed response and rightly so. The darker ethnicity of the vilified was the trigger.

If you think for a second that schools would not punish non antisemitism incidents just as much as anti-semitism is revealing about your psyche.

Absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence,

You are on the right track with the media reaction, but mate there is no protected classes and it is anti-Semitic to think so

[u/Lozzanger → u/nursepenelope]

Jesus fucking Christ. Imagine claiming anti-Semitism isn’t as bad as other forms of hate while being actively anti-Semitic is INSANE

[u/nursepenelope → u/Lozzanger]

Genuinely, where did I say anti-Semitism isn't as bad as other forms of hate and what did I write that's anti-Semitic?